Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
An update provided to the board reflected on achievements and outcomes in line with the Primary Care Access Recovery Plan (PCARP), citing “a huge amount of progress”, with a few actions still remaining to be completed. All PCNs have successfully completed their capacity and access improvement plans to focus on elements of access for telephony, websites and appointment booking, it states, whilst several practices took part in the general practice improvement programme (GPIP) to review ways of working.
GPIP has allowed practices the opportunity to review data, the update shares, whilst work on increasing use of the NHS App has meant 50 percent of all of the region’s patients are now signed up. Remaining to be completed is work including expanding uptake of Pharmacy First consultations, improving digital telephony, increasing uptake of digital and transformation PCN leads training, and improving online journeys for patients.
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire
A PCARP update was shared with the BSW board, which highlighted performance metrics including being the second highest ICB in the South West region for percentage of face-to-face primary care appointments offered, third against 14 day appointment targets, and second on application access for records. BSW also supported the first practice to offer booking and cancellation of appointments online, noting a reduction in DNAs was recorded.
“The activity in Primary Care and Out of Hospital will determine the success of the ambition of the system and the required focus,” the update states. “The ICB Commissioning Committee would be the platform now to provide that time and space for primary care deeper dives.”
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
David Jarrett, chief delivery officer at BNSSG ICB, provided an update as part of the ICB’s March board meeting, sharing that since the last update to the board in September, “progress has been made to improve access to General Practice for the population”. This includes across BNSSG’s ambitions around empowering patients, implementing a new modern general practice access approach, building capacity, and cutting bureaucracy. Bev Haworth, deputy head of primary care development, highlighted achievements including a 30 percent increase in the number of repeat prescriptions ordered through the NHS App, and a “significant increase” in the use of online consultations from 35 to 92 submissions per 1000 registered population per month.
PCNs were asked to carry out a year 2 progress review against their capacity and access improvement plans, Haworth shared, and funding was released to all PCNs following an assessment review. “The Operating Plan for 25/26 would look for more evidence with regards to patient experience, particularly an increased drive towards digitisation and commissioned projects to support the download of the NHS App to better enable communication between practices and patients,” the update continues.
Devon
In Devon, the board noted a decline in funding for primary care is “significantly impacting estates and workforce”, the update continued, whilst the publication of the 10 Year Plan will mean a strategic conversation with the primary care sector will be required. A target for 2025/26 is to get all PCNs in the Devon region to a position whereby they are in the upper quartile of national performance in terms of access, the update states, along with a “test of change” around new models of general practice.
Dorset
A meeting of the NHS Dorset board noted “good” progress on PCARP, and shared that next steps on the delivery plan have been reviewed at the ICB’s Prevention, Equity and Outcomes Committee, adding: “Positive progress had been demonstrated which was testament to the work undertaken in GP practices despite the challenging position.”
A survey helped inform the ICB on requirements for features including booking and managing appointments, checking test results, ordering repeat prescriptions, accessing medical records, and getting advice. Self-referral pathways are to continue to be strengthened, community pharmacy services will be expanded, and communications will be undertaken to raise awareness of modes of access available to the public. There remains high variation in patient experience of access, the update notes. “Long-term aims will be aligning General Practice improvements to population outcomes,” it states. “The evolution of integrated neighbourhood teams and place-based working represents an opportunity to consider access in the context of integrated care provision and increased delegated powers to local services to transform care.”
Gloucestershire
A progress update on PCARP recovery highlighted the particular success of self-referrals in Gloucestershire with rates “the highest nationally in the South West”, along with the highest rate of GPs and GP Partners in the South West region. It also shared that a pilot around interface work to reduce unnecessary additional work for practices and secondary care had been “well received by Claire Fuller and Tim Briggs on their recent visit”. The employment of PCN Pharmacy link workers is hoped to encourage more collaborative working and in addressing gaps in Pharmacy First, the update goes on.
Somerset
Somerset ICB board highlighted that more appointments are being provided than before the pandemic, however its approach to access is wider than focusing on the number of appointments and to “promote community-based person-centred care”. On tackling the “8am rush” and increasing the number of appointments delivered both same day and within 14 days, current statistics from the ICB show that on average “44 percent of all appointments in Somerset are delivered on the same day” with an estimated “40 percent delivered within 14 days”.
To support uptake of the NHS App across Somerset, the board highlights that “over 40 NHS App registration events” have taken place, with data from June 2024 showing a “5 percent year-on-year increase” in registrations. When looking ahead, the ICB highlights key priorities for the year, including: increasing NHS App record views and prescription numbers; continue expanding self-referrals; complete implementation of improved digital telephony; expand uptake of Pharmacy First services; continue implementation of simplified patient access and more.
