The Primary Care Commissioning Committee took place on 10 August 2023 at 10am. The meeting was quorate.
The full minutes with details of the discussion within the meeting will be included with the papers for the next meeting for approval at the next committee on Thursday, 14 September 2023.
The following key decisions were made in the committee:
Item 1: Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks
The Chair advised that Ian Cherry will be joining the Primary Care Commissioning Committee in September as the Lay Member/Deputy Chair of the committee.
Item 4: Minutes of the Meeting Held on 20 July 2023
Decision: The minutes were agreed as an accurate record from the previous meeting subject to an amendment to include the fact that the committee was informed that the previous market engagement correctly described Slaidburn Country Practice as an Atypical practice.
Item 5: Group Decision-making Matrix – Involvement and Engagement Testing
This item was deferred to the next meeting scheduled to be held on 14 September 2023.
Item 6: Slaidburn Country Practice – Service Specification
The committee received a verbal update as follows:
- The current contract for the Slaidburn Country Practice expires on 30 September 2023.
- Following the decision in principle at the Primary Care Committee on 20 July 2023, detailed discussions have not yet been held with the incumbent provider of Slaidburn Country Practice.
- Work has been undertaken in relation to the funding methodology for Slaidburn Country Practice, ahead of discussions with the incumbent provider which will take place at the end of August/early September 2023. This may result in a slight delay for the contract award and a definitive timetable will be established once these discussions have concluded. The committee was asked to agree in principle to an extension of the current contract up to a maximum of three months for the current service delivery, with delegated authority under Chairs action to progress the extension if required outside of meetings.
- A further update will be brought to the committee should the extension be applied.
Decision: The Primary Care Commissioning Committee noted the current position and agreed to a maximum three-month extension of the existing contract if required, with delegated authority for agreement under Chair’s action.
Item 7a: Dental Provision South Cumbria – Additional Sessions Request
The committee received a report to consider extending the number of sessions previously commissioned from Miss Julie Forde (the provider) as a result of dispersed patients arising from the closure of Grange-over-Sands practice on 31 March 2023 - with evidence of additional demand provided, above the current contract capacity, for the benefit of the local population.
Decision: The Primary Care Commissioning Committee agreed to fund three additional sessions above the five in place at the practice, and authority for this to be increased up to a maximum cap of 12 in total, subject to agreed criteria being met and delivery up to the end of March 2024 - with sessions to only be available to patients within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board geography.
Item 7b: Primary Care Capital Investment Proposal
The committee considered a report seeking approval of a Primary Care Improvement Grant to North Shore Surgery, Blackpool, as recommended by the Lancashire and South Cumbria (L&SC) Capital Working Group.
Decision: The Primary Care Commissioning Committee approved the proposal.