Agenda item

To receive an update on North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Care Partnership.

Members considered the information provided by John Rooke from the NHS.

Members, made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·        Councillor Roy raised concerns about underutilisation of the new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Wisbech and said residents’ feedback indicated poor uptake, with GP preference being to refer to King’s Lynn. He stated that the Wisbech CDC had not worked as well as expected and linked this to how it has been established and operated, plus GP referral routes and potential cross-border referral opportunities. John Rooke stated that increasing utilisation of the CDC is on the agenda and agreed Wisbech has not been used as they would like and the system used does need encouragement for change to drive up the usage.

·       Councillor Foice-Beard asked if the authorities involved could not fund the local hospitals such as Wisbech and Doddington, to utilize the area in a more efficient way as many local people struggle in the Fenland area to get to the bigger hospitals for appointments. John Rooke agreed that local hospitals do need to be utilized, the location and funding of diagnostic centres are set nationally,there had been an application for national capital funding to upgrade local X-ray equipment that the Integrated Care Board had applied for, and he is anticipated a decision around March.

·       Councillor Hay stated that in the presentation diabetes was mentioned but pre-diabetes was not mentioned and, she is aware there is additional support for people and asked if this is something that is being used regularly? John Rooke responded that, to identify prediabetes and undiagnosed cardiovascular risk (high blood pressure and high cholesterol), GP data is used to offer earlier prevention and support.

·       Councillor Carney stated that one of the biggest issues people come across is transport to and from the local hospitals in Huntingdon, Peterborough and Kings Lynn, and asked if some of these transport barriers could be broken down? John Rooke responded that two partners are looking to move their services outside of the main hospitals to alternative facilities and utilize the local services more efficiently, this will also include a digital service.

·        Councillor Hicks ask what is being put in place to change the mindsets of the local GPs to use the CDC facilities? John Rooke stated that GPs send people for specialist investigations for a reason based on clinical judgment, during Covid everything was sent through to the hospitals, but the authorities are now looking at bringing back minor procedures to local provision.

·       Councillor Miscandlon asked if anything was being changed to the current system regarding getting a doctor’s appointment and service? John Rooke stated that since October the GP contract changed so that patients can contact their GP practice 24 hours a day to request appointments to stop that funnel of 8am calls into the surgery, but what it has not been solved is patients getting appointment quickly and conveniently. He continued that what is coming in from the 1 April 2026, with the new contract is that they are asked to reserve specific appointments for people who believe they need urgent care that day so that people can get access that same day and not be put off by issues of access that can traditionally happen. Councillor Miscandlon responded that there has been no evidence of this change and questioned if the public know about the new contract and suggested this be promoted.

·       Councillor Roy expressed concern that the communication between GP practices and the Care Partnership has not improved since the last O&S meeting as the panel seem to be asking the same questions as they did at the last meeting and he is concerned that the public are not seeing information from this meeting that is critical to the NHS and the service is not getting through. John Rooke stated that he would have expected GP practices would have made patients aware of the changes available and stated that he will be investigating the reason why the information has not been advertised and patients are not aware after the finding from today’s meeting.

·       Councillor Roy mentioned the ‘All Right Mate’ initiative that was launched, stating that he has seen positive results from this with more men coming forward for vaccination etc. He asked if there was any work being put in place along similar lines going to students and colleges concerning information on health, well-being and mental health? John Rooke stated that there is national drive to do more to promote the support available for mental health and healthy living through the Health Trust and the partner teams will be leading on this to make the provision consistent and available in schools.

·       Councillor Hay stated that there is the NHS app which is available to download and this allows the patient to book appointments and view any medical records.

Members noted the information provided.