{"id":3126,"date":"2024-05-17T19:37:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T19:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ealingsaveournhs.org.uk\/?p=3126"},"modified":"2024-05-17T19:38:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T19:38:05","slug":"some-good-news-but-gp-access-service-still-under-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ealingsaveournhs.org.uk\/?p=3126","title":{"rendered":"Some Good News but GP Access Service still under threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whilst our GP services remain under threat from the NHS bosses\u2019 plans to hive off same day emergency care in to \u2018hubs\u2019,\u00a0 in our Hospitals\u00a0 there is good collaborative working to improve services for patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday 13<\/span>th<\/span> May the North West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre was formally launched at Central Middlesex and is proving to be a big hit with both patients and staff, as well as helping to bring waiting times down \u2013 so definitely a good new story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here in Ealing the <\/span>Community Diagnostic Centre is on course to open on 24<\/b>th<\/b> June in Ealing Hospital<\/b> allowing GPs to directly refer patients for scans and other diagnostics \u2013 definitely another good news story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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GPs STILL UNDER THREAT FROM \u2018HUBS\u2019 PLAN:<\/b><\/h2>\n

Plans by NW London NHS bosses (ICB) to <\/span>remove same day emergency care from GP practices<\/b> and replace it with \u2018<\/span>Same Day Access Hubs\u2019<\/span><\/i> staffed mainly by non \u2013 doctors were leaked in January and caused outrage among GPs, campaigners and other residents-\u00a0 <\/span>none of whom had been consulted.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Hub\u2019 call handlers, like NHS 111, would <\/span>divert almost all callers to non\u2013doctors<\/b> such as Physician Associates, Pharmacists and Nursing Associates \u2013 with a token GP to \u201csupervise\u201d the handling of calls.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our GPs have raised huge concerns about the risk to patients safety of diagnoses being carried out by non-doctors<\/b> and the loss of continuity of care and undermining the patient GP relationship \u2013 and we agree!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A campaign was launched and publicised in our March Newsletter, which has resulted in the bosses plans being \u2018<\/span>paused<\/span><\/i>\u2019, <\/span>but the threat to our GP practices still remains.<\/p>\n

No pressure from NHS England to introduce Hubs!<\/b><\/h4>\n

NW London bosses pretend these Hubs are driven by national policy and instruction, yet only NW London and one other ICB are pushing these proposals. As for national instructions, Amanda Doyle, NHS England\u2019s Primary Care Director has stated that its \u2018<\/span>up to local systems\u2019<\/span><\/i> what they implement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u2018Hubs\u2019 were tested in ten Primary Care Networks in NW London, but there has been no evaluation or any data published on their effectiveness. <\/span>You can be sure if they had been successful it would have been well publicised!\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Downgrading GPs and saving money<\/b><\/h4>\n

It is very much part of Government Strategy to deskill and devalue the role of GPs and by doing so, save money.\u00a0 There is a \u00a31.4 billion pot available for Primary Care, but <\/span>only<\/b> to employ Physician<\/span>\u00a0Associates and other non doctors, not to employ the staff we most want to see \u2013 nurses and GPs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We now have a bizarre situation <\/span>around the country, <\/span>that fully qualified GPs are\u00a0<\/b>unable to find locum and full-time posts,<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or are being made unemployed, with their work being increasingly done by less qualified and much cheaper staff!!<\/span><\/p>\n

So where are we now?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Unfortunately there has been no agreement reached with the Local Management Committee\u00a0<\/span>(GPs). Councillors from various Boroughs have joined the opposition along with some MPs.<\/span><\/p>\n

NW London NHS bosses are trying to deflect opposition by claiming\u00a0 \u2018<\/span>it\u2019s not a top down process at all\u2019<\/span><\/i> and claiming it\u2019s up to Primary Care Networks (groups of GP practices) to decide how best to improve access – supposedly in conjunction with patients!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, you can be sure there will be a big carrot (money) for those PCNs that adopt Hubs, as well as a threat of loss of funding if they don\u2019t. To date there has been no consultation with patients that we are aware of!<\/span><\/p>\n

John Lister\u2019s latest article on the NW London plans is well worth a read <\/span>here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Ealing Save Our NHS and other NW London campaigners will continue to campaign against these plans and defend our GP services.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Check out our latest leaflet<\/strong> here\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Please sign the Petition to oppose the Hubs <\/strong>here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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ELECTIVE ORTHOPAEDIC CENTRE \u2013 \u2018MUCH BETTER THAN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL\u2019\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

That was the verdict of the Medical Director for North West London\u2019s new Elective Orthopaedic Centre (EOC) at Central Middlesex Hospital, at the formal launch on Monday 13<\/span>th<\/span> March, which we attended along with staff, councillors and local MPs. We particularly enjoyed Dawn Butler MP\u2019s \u201c<\/strong><\/span>No more NHS Cuts<\/i><\/strong>\u201d<\/strong> comment\u00a0 – she\u2019s in the photo above with the scissors!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Centre aims to see around 4,000 patients a year who need routine bone and joint surgery. It is \u00a0 a result of a collaboration between the four hospital trusts in North West London and is managed by our local trust, London North West.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you are referred to the Centre your local hospital consultant will \u2018<\/span>follow you\u2019<\/span><\/i> and do the surgery. All follow up care will be back at home, in the community or at your normal hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s had \u00a39 million pounds of investment, recruited over 100 staff and has state-of-the art purpose-built theatres, purely for orthopaedic surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There has also been genuine consultation and involvement of staff and the public, in particular to deal with travel difficulties across North West London. Free patient transport is available for those with either long, expensive or difficult journeys and for those who need medical support or have difficulties walking \u2013 pretty unheard of in the NHS.<\/span><\/p>\n

It shows what the NHS can do when it listens to clinicians, patients and the public, such a contrast to the approach of the NW London bosses over GP Access!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s have more of this innovative and collaborative working – not gimmicks and use of private hospitals as favoured by both the Government and unfortunately Labour too \u2013 they don\u2019t work!<\/span><\/p>\n

You can read more about the EOC here\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n

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ROUND UP FROM EALING HOSPITAL:<\/b><\/h2>\n

This month we met again with London North West NHS Trust Chief Executive, Pippa Nightingale and Mark Titcomb, the Managing Director, for Ealing & Central Middlesex Hospitals for an update on services at Ealing Hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some highlights:-<\/span><\/p>\n