Changes to Urgent Care Services – Dr Sian Howell
Local public health profile – Dr Ruth Wallis
Kings College Hospital – Sally Lingard, Director of Communications
There will also be stalls in the hall from Healthwatch, Women’s Safety Charter and other local health organisations.
Minutes:
Local public health profile, Dr Ruth Wallis, Director of Public Health
- The point of public health was to protect and improve the health of the population.
- As a whole Southwark had a young population. This part of the borough had high population density and a high birth rate. The population was expected to increase by at least 8% over the next ten years.
- This part of the borough was relatively deprived compared with the rest of the borough and the rest of the country.
- In the Camberwell area, there were about 6,500 smokers and above average alcohol consumption. Higher than national average for overweight people, including children.
- Reduced life expectancy. This part of the borough had a low age for disease free life expectancy, that is the age before one can expect something serious to happen health wise. In this area it was about 55, whilst in Dulwich about 70. That impacted on their well-being and ability to work. The ambition for prevention was to make those things happen later in life.
- Life expectancy had improved generally for health care related issues.
- Teenage pregnancy rates had reduced in recent years.
- Higher than average numbers of people living with HIV.
- People were less engaged and more socially isolated.
Ruth explained that Michael Marmot, a professor at University College London, had some general recommendations around health inequality:
- Give every child the best start in life
- Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
- Create fair employment and good work for all
- Ensure a healthy standard of living for all
- Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
- Strengthen the role and impact of health prevention.
The chair thanked Ruth and said that the last meeting of full council had debated public health. He added that it was striking how committed the council was to improving public health.
In response to questions, Ruth made the following points:
- Most adult smokers started their nicotine addiction young and numbers were continuing to fall. Health education around alcohol explained the dangers of binge drinking and the social dangers that were more likely whilst under the influence.
- Like much of Western Europe, childhood obesity was a problem in Southwark and the UK. Generally, daily physical activity had fallen and the consumption of sugary drinks and high calorie snacks had risen. A fall in the number of fast food outlets plus a rise in healthy eating / cooking lessons at school, could help tackle the problem.
Councillor Mark Williams explained that the council was pushing to extend the ultra low emissions zone to cover Southwark and preferably all of London. More than 120 people died prematurely each year in Southwark due to air pollution.
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle said that one of Southwark’s pledges was to make it an age friendly borough. Age UK had been doing a lot of work to encourage befriending in the community to help reduce isolation and avoidable deaths, especially during the winter months.
Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Dr Sian Howell presented.
Improving access to GP appointments in Southwark
- The CCG want to make it easier for Southwark patients to see or speak to a nurse or GP when they need to.
- The CCG know the health service can be confusing so we want to make GP practice the first port of call.
- The CCG are investing £2 million per year in a new service.
- The service started in the south of Southwark in November 2014 and would be rolled out in the north in early 2015.
The new service
- A new service providing same day or next day appointments had replaced the walk-in service at the Lister primary care centre.
- If residents had not registered with a GP, they should contact a practice near to where they live
- The new service was available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Walk-in appointments were no longer available at the Lister primary care centre.
- If a GP practice was closed, residents would be redirected to the out-of-hours service, or could phone 020 8693 9066. A&E was for emergencies only.
Why are services changing in Southwark?
- GP practices across Southwark are working together to improve access to GP services.
- The CCG know that patients often find it difficult to see a GP or nurse on the same day or the next, especially in the evenings and at weekends.
- People also told the CCG that they find services confusing and are not always sure which one to use.
- The CCG wants patients to contact their GP first to support them to more easily and quickly find the service which is right for them.
How does the new service work?
- When residents contact their GP practice they would be able to speak to a GP or nurse who can give advice. If they need to be seen, they will book an appointment in their own GP practice.
- If an appointment was not available, they can book an appointment at a new service at the Lister centre. This service was available 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week from the Lister centre.
- Any GP or nurse would, with consent, have access to a patient’s health information and history.
What about for unregistered patients?
- The CCG want to support patients to register with a GP because there are lots of benefits.
- For example, if a resident had an illness, the GP would have access to on-going care and any specialist treatment needed.
- It also meant that the patient could be prescribed the right medication, for example if there were any allergies.
- If not registered with a GP, a resident could still use the new service by contacting a GP near to where they live.
- Patients will still be able to speak to a GP or nurse. If they need to be seen, then an appointment at the Lister centre could be booked.
- If patients need help finding your nearest practice call NHS England on 0300 311 2233 or go to NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk).
In response to questions, Sian made the following points:
- She was very optimistic that the federation model of GP practices working collectively would drive up standards. The aim was to develop consistent practices and improve care for patients.
- Sian thanked several residents who highlighted the excellent work of the Camberwell Green GP surgery.
- The idea was for practices to make the best of the resources available.
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, encouraged residents to join local patient participation groups (PPGs). Training was available.
Sian said they were trying to change the behaviour of 20 GP practices so it would take a bit of time. There would be more consultation in future and residents should phone their GPs and join the PPGs if they wanted to feedback their comments.