An ICB has decided to abandon controversial plans to make cuts at local GP out-of-hour and walk-in centre, following criticism from councillors and patients.
Norfolk and Waveney ICB announced it is shelving plans to reduce the number of face-to-face out-of-hours (OOH) bases and close the Norwich walk-in centre, which were intended to address the £280m deficit in the local health services budget.
The plans, which also mentioned redirecting some of the savings to the ‘lowest funded’ GP surgeries, had been part of a public consultation, but had been strongly criticised by patients and local councillors.
Norfolk county council’s health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) voted to ‘call in’ the consultation to health secretary Wes Streeting, arguing that it is ‘not fit for purpose’.
The ICB said that the decision to abandon the plans was made because ‘the situation has changed’ since the start of the consultation, and that going forward it is planning to put ‘a greater emphasis’ on neighbourhood health, in line with the Government’s 10-year plan.
The ICB’s interim chief executive Ed Garratt said: ‘The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase neighbourhood level services and improve access to primary care.
‘This is in line with the Government’s 10 Year Plan, which is due to be published this summer, and will describe a national shift of resources from acute to community services, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital services.’
Sadie Parker, the ICB’s director of primary care, said: ‘The situation has changed since we started the consultation. There is going to be a greater emphasis on developing a neighbourhood health service and we are expecting further national guidance on this, which along with the 10 Year Plan, will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services.’
The ICB will now put in place new contracts for the Norwich walk-in centre and the vulnerable adults service, as the current contracts are nearing their end, while the GP OOH service will continue as it is.
Healthwatch Norfolk said that there were ‘concerns raised by a number of communities’ around the GP OOH service changes resulting in a possible ‘postcode lottery’ where ability to access them depends on where you live.
In a statement, the organisation said: ‘Based on the feedback we have received during the engagement around these services, we are pleased with the news they will continue to operate.
‘The overwhelming majority felt the walk-in centre was a vital care safety net for those who either struggled to get an appointment from their GP or felt their condition was not serious enough for them to attend Accident and Emergency.’
Green party councillor Lucy Galvin, who had been campaigning against the plans, told Pulse: ‘This was a hard fought campaign and I am so glad to see it has resulted in this complete change of heart.
‘These services for the most vulnerable should never, ever have been under threat like this. It has been a tremendous worry to patients and staff alike.
‘Thanks to all who have been part of the campaign. Without it, we would have lost these vital services. Our huge local pressure on the ICB, including the call in to the secretary of state by the Norfolk health overview and scrutiny have worked.’
She said she saw first-hand how patients and staff have been ‘deeply concerned’ about the plans.
She added: ‘It is with them and the other people who have campaigned so hard that I will be celebrating. Now we need to see stable, transparent funding for these vital services, evidence based care and proper patient representation.’
Last year, Pulse revealed that a group of practices across Norwich could face a £500,000 funding clawback following the sudden collapse of a company supporting the local PCN.
Practices in and around Norwich are extremely inefficient, their partners are burnt out and their staff are massively demoralised. Patients are told to go elsewhere right off the bat instead of a hello how can we help. Closing the WIC and taking funding away from OOHs would be an unmitigated disaster.
Well, yesman, is that because they are starved of resources while so much is spent on the fragmented, non GP same day care and OOH? It happens all over the country to a degree. Should not ICB’s fund practices so that they can give a proper, joined up service?