NHS local community hubs

In my expanding village we have a perfectly good surgery which used to operate very well, with a practice Nurse and several Doctors easily available.
Now we are part of a much larger Practice, with no Nurse, no appointment granted without filling in a Klinic form and a waiting time of anything up to four weeks; emergencies, such as it a tick on my back because I can't see it properly, or is it an eyelash in my eye referred to A&E; doctors who only work part-time and doctors who are part of the larger Practice and are sometimes available if we drive up to ten miles to see them. No bus service available.
The Practice manager refuses to admit to its name or sex or address and correspondence is filtered through the practice.

Instead of setting up new hubs why not activate existing practices and insist on a percentage of full-time doctors according to patient numbers: as used to be the case with a much smaller patient list? Whether the part-time work is due to maternity leave, work-life balance or time spent in private practice is unknown, or 'can't say.'
For the first time in my life I am dissatisfied with the NHS service, and I lay the blame at the door of the GPs in local practice. Pay rises only make the system worse, because even more will choose to work fewer hours and operate telephone consultations only.

ronib

I have mentally filed this away with the 40 new hospitals PoliticsNerd. Just another sleight of hand? My hay fever is preventing any enthusiasm for ploughing through Labour policy documents… and my common sense is telling me not to bother -

You appear to be relying on unattributable guesses ronib. No one should believe these to be true unless you can quote some proof.

We trialed this model in Essex when I was still working in the 2010 brilliant idea which didn't work as not all agencies signed up to it and interprofessional strife abounded especially around power, budget allocation and professional personalities.

Samsara1

We trialed this model in Essex when I was still working in the 2010 brilliant idea which didn't work as not all agencies signed up to it and interprofessional strife abounded especially around power, budget allocation and professional personalities.

I live in Essex and more local hubs are working really well.

PoliticsNerd there’s definitely proof that only 10 out of 40 hospitals are being revamped. Why would anyone believe that there’s been a change in the way government pretends?

ronib

PoliticsNerd there’s definitely proof that only 10 out of 40 hospitals are being revamped. Why would anyone believe that there’s been a change in the way government pretends?

Labour didn't promise 40 new hospitals.

True Growstuff but it has gone ahead with the first tranche of ten so it’s clearly a policy? Or not? As our extremely falling apart hospital is now on the back burner, you will forgive my cynicism? So promise everything just don’t believe it will happen…..

ronib

True Growstuff but it has gone ahead with the first tranche of ten so it’s clearly a policy? Or not? As our extremely falling apart hospital is now on the back burner, you will forgive my cynicism? So promise everything just don’t believe it will happen…..

TBH they're not connected. My "default" hospital is falling down and was supposed to be replaced years ago, but isn't even on the list. It doesn't mean that the hubs aren't happening. I know they are because I've visited them twice for different issues - and very efficient they were too.

What is connected in my mind is that when a politician speaks, don’t always believe promises will be delivered. It doesn’t bode well when hospital buildings are falling down but never mind, we shall have hubs ……???? TBH

ronib

What is connected in my mind is that when a politician speaks, don’t always believe promises will be delivered. It doesn’t bode well when hospital buildings are falling down but never mind, we shall have hubs ……???? TBH

Nope, the Labour Party never promised hospitals.

The hubs are a new way of working - not a replacement for crumbling hospitals, which were never going to be replaced (except in Boris Johnson's imagination).

The Labour Party is under no obligation to make Conservative fairy tales a reality.

Well so long as we don’t fall for the next fairy tale…. Growstuff

ronib

Well so long as we don’t fall for the next fairy tale…. *Growstuff *

I'm happy with the fairy tale hubs I've attended.

Can you have your appendix removed in a hub for example? Or a stent inserted? growstuff

I think this model must be based on the Welsh model, which has been in place for a few years. Community hubs here are not like GP practices or traditional community hospitals, they are the focus for integrated working between health and social care in the community, as well as providing inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic services for a defined local population, typically served by 6-8 GP practices. The management of the hubs is integral to meeting the GP defined needs.. The principle is that if a secondary care service can be provided at scale at a local level it is, rather than people having to attend a general or psychiatric hospital. It’s not perfect by any means yet, but is developing well, and is liked by patients.

ronib

Can you have your appendix removed in a hub for example? Or a stent inserted? growstuff

You misunderstand I think ronib. Operations are carried out in general hospitals which have fully equipped operating theatres, access to intervention in the event of a patient needing intensive care, etc. Would anybody want a stent replaced or an appendix removed, both of which are high risk procedures, without those facilities? However, surgical intervention is a very small part of the total list of services people need from the NHS. Community hubs are capable of providing a much higher percentage of that care and treatment than people can currently get at local level.

We are looking at a GP led service rather than a GP delivered service. People will still be able to see a GP - if that's what is needed.

Yes Casdon I do misunderstand Labour policy. Our local hospital is in dire physical condition although staff are very good. Its rebuilding program has been set back years. No matter how good hubs are, surgery still needs to be available and hubs won’t stop the need.

Yes, that’s what the Welsh model is built on too. The GP practices in a defined area are the basis of the clinical leadership team for the community hubs. They are called Neighbourhood Care Networks.

Pippa000

Of course this 'country wide ' programme ( according to BBC), is only being rolled out in England. Therefore Wales, Scotland and I think N Ireland is not part of the scheme. I do wish that new reports would actually mention this.

In England only.

Yes, me too, Pippa000

ronib

Yes Casdon I do misunderstand Labour policy. Our local hospital is in dire physical condition although staff are very good. Its rebuilding program has been set back years. No matter how good hubs are, surgery still needs to be available and hubs won’t stop the need.

There is a separate programme for general hospitals ronib, I know we have discussed that before on Gransnet. That will not detract from the development of services at local level, so it is important to grasp the concept I think, so you can make constructive criticism rather than conflating the two work streams.

Allira

Pippa000

Of course this 'country wide ' programme ( according to BBC), is only being rolled out in England. Therefore Wales, Scotland and I think N Ireland is not part of the scheme. I do wish that new reports would actually mention this.

In England only.

Yes, me too, Pippa000

I’m sure that Scotland has already gone down a similar path as Wales with this, so both are ahead of England. I have no knowledge of Northern Ireland though, I know the political environment resulted in many delayed decisions, but may have moved forward now.

ronib

Yes Casdon I do misunderstand Labour policy. Our local hospital is in dire physical condition although staff are very good. Its rebuilding program has been set back years. No matter how good hubs are, surgery still needs to be available and hubs won’t stop the need.

But aren't you the only one who has suggested surgery - other than very minor operation, which have always been available at some surgeries - would not be done in hospitals, ronib?

What I am failing to highlight is the diabolical condition of some general hospitals PoliticsNerd

ronib

What is connected in my mind is that when a politician speaks, don’t always believe promises will be delivered. It doesn’t bode well when hospital buildings are falling down but never mind, we shall have hubs ……???? TBH

But the "promises" you are getting so cynical about never existed

But of course the list to rebuild 40 hospitals exists. In fact our local hospital is now due for a rebuild in about 8 years and in the meantime, the bill for repairs and maintenance is huge. PoliticsNerd