SCHC-Patient Participation Group
(New 20th. Nov 2014)
Primery Care In Essex
Transformation of the provision of primary care in Essex is currently under consideration.
Thurrock CCG is one of the seven localities in Essex.
Primary Care; the principal providers of which are: GP Practices, Dental Practices, Pharmacies and
Optometry. (Currently these services are not integrated)
The strategy under consideration is for the formation of “Primary Care Hubs” bringing these services
together, alongside a diversity of other health professionals and services. These Hubs would each
cater for a minimum of 20,000 Patients.
Why is this change considered to be required?
1. Services are not integrated; too often people are treated as new patients each time they
see a different health or social care professional. Medical records are not routinely shared.
2. There is no new money available; the funding system treats hospitals differently by
rewarding hospitals for each item of service (payments by results) while primary care is
funded by the number of patients registered with the practice. 64% of spend takes place in
acute settings, with 20% in primary care and 16% in community settings. There is an
aspiration to see a shift of resources from hospital providers to primary care. It will be up to
each CCG area to determine the scale of the shift.
3. An overload of General Practice workforce; General Practices are absorbing more and more
work. GP consultation rates increased by 40% in a period 2005/2008 and are predicted to
rise a further 33% by 2035 compared to 2008 levels. Average time spent with a GP has risen
from 8 minutes to 12 minutes. Clinical capacity needs to be addressed; in Essex one GP in
fourteen is aged over 65 and two fifths are in the 50 – 64 age bracket. Essex has one of the
lowest concentration of GPs per resident in the country, to reach the England average Essex
require a further 143 full time GPs.
4. Mixed Primary Care estate; Premises range from purpose built primary care centres to
converted terrace. As services continue to change so too will the location from which they
are provided. The NHS reimburses rents for general practice accommodation with the space
paid for used only Monday to Friday.
5. Inconsistent quality and intervention; all patients should be treated to highest quality
standards. A high priority for Essex is the need to improve cancer services in primary care.
6. Demographics of population are changing; the health needs of the population are changing,
in England more than 15 million people have one or more long term conditions. The
population of Essex is growing; 107,000 new dwellings are planned in the next ten years, this
translates to additional 165,000 residents moving into the area. The highest numbers of new
houses being built are in Thurrock and Colchester.
Primary care Hubs
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10 February 2016
SCHC-Patient Participation Group
(New 20th. Nov 2014)
Primery Care In Essex
What will this new model of primary care look like
A selection of the characteristics of the new model includes:
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Primary care providers will work within “Primary Care Hubs” reducing the need to go to
hospital, but ensuring personalised care for patients is maintained.
Primary care hubs will be integrated with community services and aligned with social care.
Some hospital sites in Essex will become primary care led sites, offering a full range of
diagnostic and other non-acute services.
Primary care facilities will be fully utilised seven days a week, within a primary care hub.
All service providers will have access to patients’ records to ensure a more integrated and
effective response to urgent care needs.
Patient voice will be strengthened within each primary care hub, building on the further
development of PPGs (Patient Participation Groups)
The number of nurses in Essex will increase through the enhancement of nurse practitioners,
training and enhanced roles within the hubs.
Typical Primary Care Hub
All Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups to cover the individual geographies and
demographics, priority areas for the CCG, aspirations and key milestones.
While working to a common framework, each CCG has developed their input, addressing key local
concerns and contextualising the overall strategy and vision.
Thurrock CCG have made their responses and this can be viewed at “To be accertained”
Primary care Hubs
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10 February 2016
SCHC-Patient Participation Group
(New 20th. Nov 2014)
Primery Care In Essex
Thurrock CCG Input.
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The primary care provision n Thurrock consists of 42 GP practices (main and branch) with
167,946 registered patients as at 1st. April 2013. There are also 21 dental practices, 18
opticians’ and32 opticians.
It is estimated that 75% of primary care estate in Thurrock is unfit for purpose.
The prevalence of dementia in Thurrock is predicted to increase in future years, particularly
in those aged over 65 years +. Rising by 13% by 2015.
Primary Care Hub in Thurrock
Thurrock summary indicator outliers, all of which are significantly worse than England Average
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Long term unemployment.
Breast feeding initiation.
Obese children (year 6).
Adult smoking .
Smoking related deaths.
People diagnosed with diabetes.
Primary care Hubs
Page 3
10 February 2016
SCHC-Patient Participation Group
(New 20th. Nov 2014)
Primery Care In Essex
Thurrock CCG Progress Report 20th. Nov 2014
Thurrock CCG has met with a number of GPs from the Thurrock CCG Area with a view to the
principle of “Hubs”, with the view of offering a week-end service.
£250,000 has been made available from TCCG budgets for the purpose of starting up Hubs.
Four localities within Thurrock have been identified as suitable for providing this service;
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Grays
Stamford le Hope
Tilbury
Aveley
It is intended to offer the services of one GP and one nurse for Saturday and Sunday consultations.
The GP will already be working in Thurrock (no additional recruitment). The precise location and
hours are yet to be decided.
It is intended to update this article as more information becomes available.
Useful Links;
Primary care Hubs
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10 February 2016