MPs to investigate NHS transformation plans

[Northerner]

MPs on an influential parliamentary committee have launched an inquiry into England’s sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) that could lead to significant changes in how GPs work.

MPs on the health select committee announced they are launching an inquiry into STPs, prompted by last week’s Next Steps on the NHS Forward View report published by NHS England.

Among its many points, the Next Steps report said:

• patients could have to wait longer for elective operations to allow the NHS to focus on improving care in other areas, such as cancer, primary care and mental health
• GPs will be expected to cut back on the numbers of patients they refer to hospital focusing instead on options in the community
• all hospitals will be expected to introduce front-door clinical streaming headed by GPs by October, to triage patients
• half of the population will have access to evening and weekend GP opening by March 2018, and the whole of England by March 2019
• GP practices will be encouraged to work together in primary care “hubs” or networks, with a combined patient population of between 30,000 and 50,000 sharing resources.

http://www.onmedica.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=7675178e-e201-4299-a7d5-e643e9d6d756

 

[grovesy]

Many MP's have been asking repeated about the plans being put forward and the Tories just keep repeating local people will make discussions for local services.

 

[mikeyB]

The idea of GPs working in primary care hubs is fine in metropolitan areas, but what about the Lake District? Northumberland? Cornwall? Norfolk? If that population format became compulsory some folk would be driving thirty miles to see their doc. Or, one assumes, second class service.