Issue - meetings

Performance Monitoring Panel Work Programme

Meeting: 15/11/2023 - Performance Monitoring Panel (Item 43)

43 Performance Monitoring Panel Work Programme pdf icon PDF 183 KB

To set out the Work Programme of the Performance Monitoring Panel;  to request items for consideration for inclusion; and to consider a member’s request to examine the delivery of services provided by all GP surgeries in South Holland (report of the Assistant Director – Governance enclosed).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistance Director – Governance which set out the Work Programme of the Performance Monitoring Panel; requested items for consideration for inclusion; and asked the Panel to consider a member’s request to examine the delivery of services provided by all GP surgeries in South Holland.

 

The Democratic Services Officer introduced the report and advised the panel of the following updates to the Work Programme:

  • An update regarding the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field Task Group would come forward to the panel at the 23 January 2024 meeting. The lead officer for this item was clarified as the Strategic and Operational Property Manager; and
  • A tracker update in respect of the SHDC Peer Review Action Plan would come forward to the committee as part of the Performance Report item in early summer 2024. The item would be scheduled when committee meeting dates for 2024/2025 were confirmed.

 

The following discussion ensued around a members request to examine the delivery of services provided by all GP surgeries in South Holland:

  • Some residents had encountered barriers when attempting to secure face-to-face GP appointments;
  • The default culture of securing a face-to-face GP appointment had not recovered since the instigation of phone appointments during the Covid period;
  • Phone appointments were not suitable for everyone; long call waiting times were often experienced; and whilst callers were regularly made aware of their status within the queueing system, for some this had necessitated the abandonment of the call attempt;
  • Where appointments were not available, residents had been advised to call NHS 111 or visit a hospital. Members stated that this approach increased existing pressures faced by hospitals;
  • It was known that some doctors were forced to work from home due to insufficient space at surgeries;
  • Members expressed concern regarding the accountability of primary care and felt that the current system had become a barrier to good health and wellbeing of the community. There were known instances where people had suffered; and
  • As GP surgeries were contracted to deliver primary care on behalf of the NHS, members felt it would be useful to understand the nature of the contracts and requested that a relevant NHS contact attend the 23 January 2024 Performance Monitoring Panel meeting to impart guidance on the matter.
    • The Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development agreed to approach a known NHS contact regarding an invitation to attend the 23 January 2024 meeting.

 

AGREED:

 

a)    That the content of the report be noted; and

 

b)    That a NHS contact be invited to attend the 23 January 2024 Performance Monitoring Panel meeting.