The PMCF is designed to establish pilot programmes of work to explore a
number of ways to improve access to general practice, to develop a more
integrated approach to providing general practice and wider
out-of-hospital services and to develop more innovative ways for people
to access and relate to general practice. Demonstrating sustainability
of the pilot schemes was identified as a key factor from the outset. A
funding pot of £100m was identified for organisations/groups of
practices to bid for.
Following the development of the General
Practice Strategy in Halton, practices were contacted and asked to
develop and propose schemes that could be collated into an overall bid
for non-recurrent funding from the national PMCF programme. In total,
the bid from Halton CCG and practices totalled £1.6m and in May, it was
confirmed that we had been successful. A final budget of £1.548m was
awarded which needs to be spent in full in 2015/16.
“Together
for the health of Halton” contains eight schemes. Five of the schemes
will provide direct patient and public services. One scheme focusses on
engagement, communication and pathway development. The final two
schemes are a combination of Project Managers to support the delivery of
all schemes and funding to support practice discussions around future
development and joint working.
The five patient and public
services are a blend of schemes providing additional General Practice
access, schemes providing alternative access and choices and finally, a
scheme focussed on reducing demand on General Practice for specific
patient groups.
Each scheme has a designated lead (with all
patient/public service schemes having a clinical/practice lead and
operational lead), an identified budget and intended benefits. A summary
of the schemes is provided below.
Extended access to GP practices
More
than 200 additional appointments will be made available each week
across selected GP practices in Runcorn and Widnes outside of core hours
including 7am-7pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and Saturday mornings at
Brookvale practice, and a centralised service across Widnes which will
be run from the Urgent Care Centre. The Widnes scheme will offer
appointments every evening of the week as well as at the weekends. The
scheme in Runcorn went live in August, with the Widnes scheme commencing
in early November.
E-Consultation
The
e-Consultation service provides patients with the opportunity to
undertake online consultations for approximately 100 common
conditions.Patients are able to correspond with a GP and receive a
timely response, ensuring easier access to GP services. This service is
currently being trialled at Grove House, Murdishaw and the Beeches with
more practices coming online later in the year.
Community Pharmacy
Community
Pharmacies in Halton will be commissioned to deliver additional
innovative services which dovetail with GP services. The schemes are
focussing initially on two areas - Respiratory health (in both adults
and children) and offering additional minor alignments services (e.g.
Blood Pressure and Atrial Fibrillation). These schemes will provide
information and education, offering more convenience for patients and
reducing the number of avoidable GP appointments. Schemes will go live
in November.
Patient Connect
Providing a
range of services in the community for specific patient groups and
communities experiencing different forms and aspects of isolation,
focusing on children, families and older people. These services will be
delivered in partnership with local statutory and non-statutory
organisations. The scheme is aimed at helping Halton residents to choose
the most efficient and effective means of accessing health support and
advice. As such, it is anticipated that this scheme will have a positive
impact by reducing demand for GP appointments – which in itself will
improve access locally.
Other elements of the PMCF in Halton
The
CCG will be working with the University of Chester who will be the
evaluation partner for this programme of work. The University bring a
wealth of experience and expertise that will support the evaluation of
each scheme to consider its effectiveness, sustainability, impact and
value for money.
The CCG has established a multi-agency
communications group to launch a borough-wide communications strategy to
raise awareness of the programme across Halton. This will be targeting
all communities and age groups across Halton.
Simon Banks
