Jacqui Evans, Assistant Director, Integrated Commissioning Programme gave a presentation (attached to these minutes) on changes to urgent care on the Wirral with the development of a new Urgent Care Centre at Arrowe Park Hospital. The public are to be consulted on 2 options that differ on opening times with one option being a 24 hour service and the other a 12 hour service.

Jacqui highlighted that the current offer cannot be maintained with an urgent treatment centre due to the costs. She stated that they would begin analysing all feedback from 12^th December 2018 and would provide a final recommendation by February 2019 with plans to implement those recommendations by December 2019.

The chair opened questions to the public.

Phil Simpson, resident, stated that terms such as “transformation” and “sustainability” generally lead to budget/staff cuts. He recommended to the public that they join local health groups.

Mr Simpson asked if Jacqui Evans could categorically assure him that current walk in centres will not close.

He claimed that he had never seen a ‘lay-person’ at a CCG meeting.

Mr Simpson also raised the issue of pharmacies charge a patient’s GP £28 when they give medical advice to the patient.

A resident stated that current staff levels were wrong and asked where the staff will come from for the new urgent care centre.

Peter Owen, resident, stated his interest in what was happening at the moment with urgent care. It was mentioned in the presentation that 50% of those attending A&E were there for relatively trivial matters and being able to reduce this by half would make a huge difference.

Mr Owens also mentioned the 111 service and how it appeared to operate like a triage, using level 3 support to pass patients on to the relevant care giver.

Jacqui Evans stated that the 111 service was a national development and that the NHS was taking into account the learning of the past 2 years. Under the current 111 offer people were fed up of waiting on the phone and there was a pattern of them going straight to A&E rather than waiting to be put through to the correct person. She stated that she couldn’t make absolute claims on costs etc but that the figures were being developed. Under the new system you would be immediately referred to the relevant department rather than having to wait for a call back.

Jacqui Evans stated the communications was an issue for pharmacies giving medical advice. People go straight to A&E because they know they will be treated. Not enough people are aware that they can go to a pharmacy for advice and that it is a matter of signposting people to the relevant treatment. Approximately 20% of people at A&E could have been treated at a pharmacy. A large proportion of patients could have been treated locally by a GP or nurse and the message received from patients was that they struggled to get access to their GP when they needed it.

A resident queried if there was a pharmacy within the A&E building. Jacqui Evans confirmed that there was but that the hope was that patients went to their local pharmacy.

Jacqui Evans stated that regarding the workforce query, they have a working group looking at how to plan their workforce, they have engaged with the Community Trust and other groups. For the urgent care centre, they are trying to consolidate more highly skilled workers. Jacqui confirmed that there were no planned job losses but that some nurses may be required to work elsewhere. Jacqui stated there had been good feedback from staff and that there were good opportunities for ‘up skilling’. She confirmed that there were no plans to close any of the current walk-in centres. There will be no walk-in options at these centres for adults with urgent care needs who would now have to go to Arrowe Park. All other services at these walk-in centres would continue. There would also be same-day access to GPs locally.

Phil Simpson, resident, asked Jacqui Evans to confirm that none of the current walk-in centres will close and referred to his previous question about a perceived lack of lay-people at CCG meetings.

Jacqui Evans responded by stating that there is a lay-person at every CCG meeting. She also confirmed that none of the walk-in centres will be closing.

A resident stated that there are issues for people going to current walk-in centres and being referred to relevant departments.

Jacqui Evans stated that current walk-ins are not all open at the same times and that the new plan makes the service offer equal across the borough. She confirmed again that there would be no change to the walk-in offer for children.

The Chair wrapped up the questions for this item and asked Jacqui Evans to return to the Wirral West Constituency Committee at the end of the consultation to give an update. Jacqui confirmed that she would be happy to do so.