The Committee will received a presentation on the future plans of the Urgent Care Centre in Reading from Sarah Webster, Executive Director for Berkshire West Place, ICB.

Sarah Webster, Executive Director for Berkshire West Place, ICB and Helen Clark, Associate Director of Primary Care, Berkshire West, ICB provided a presentation and update on the Urgent Care Centre in Reading pilot scheme.  The main points included:

• There had been an increase and high demand for urgent care services including help for minor illnesses, 111 referrals and for out of hours GP.  This showed a demand for a service to meet the needs for urgent care activity.
• Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic the Reading Walk-in Centre saw around 100 patients per day and the Centre was only able to access patients Summary Care Record; patients had to go back to their practice for ongoing care, onward referrals etc.
• During the pandemic the Walk-In service had been suspended to accommodate the Covid-19 Respiratory Hub.  From April to July 2020 a registered list ran from Milman Road Surgery, after that period the two services operated alongside each other.
• The Walk-In Centre was currently suspended with focus on encouraging patients to access care from their own GP practice.  During Winter 2021-22 there had been an additional number of appointments commissioned across Berkshire West practices with two overflow hubs in Reading. There had been no national funding for additional capacity this Winter.
• A pilot scheme for an Urgent Care Centre based in central Reading for minor illnesses would be commissioned from November 2022 to run for 18 months.  This would then be reviewed for consideration of a long-term model to be delivered locally.
• The pilot scheme would have the capacity for 100 patients a day with 50 walk-ins and 50 referred from Emergency Departments.
• The previous Walk-In Centre would remain suspended.
• The registered list element would be re-procured over the next six months and would be dealt with separately.
• Improvements to other areas included monitoring data, working with Healthwatch to gather information, working with PCNs, increasing referrals to the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service, completing a telephony roll-out, winter messaging, revised delivery service for Enhanced Access, registration campaign for young males, peer support to improve access and a digital literacy programme to support online access and the NHS App.

In response to questions, points made included:

• Work was being undertaken with the planning department to consider population growth and the needs for GP provision across Reading.  Updated data had been received and plans were being updated to consider future need.

• Consideration would be given to working with social care and the needs of the service to support patients. 
• Partnership and joint working with Adult Social Care and Health was being undertaken. The scheme would provide learning and future ways of working together. It was agreed that an update be provided to the Committee once the Urgent Care Centre was up and running to provide information on the service and how it linked with partners and how social care was working.
• The Service would make links and referrals for patients with mental health issues as appropriate. 
• Referrals from the NHS 111 service was not part of the pilot but would be considered in the future.
• There was a commitment to ensure health and equalities to avoid digital exclusion.  Literacy programmes and hubs to access support with computers to access services would be provided.  Anyone accessing the Urgent Care Service for on the day care would receive support.  Information would be provided to people about the service and support would be provided to register with a GP practice.

The Chair thanked Sarah and Helen for the presentation.

Resolved –    That a future update be provided to the Committee on the Urgent Care Service.