The Primary Care Commissioning Committee took place on 18 January 2024 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 8 February 2024
It was noted in the meeting that six questions from members of the public were received. One did not relate to an item on the agenda. The others related to item 5a which were incorporated into the discussion on the item. It was also noted that a number of emails had been sent to the Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer and through other channels. These have been acknowledged with the individuals and responses will be sent in due course.
The following key decisions were made in the committee:
Item 4: Minutes of the Meeting Held on 14 December 2023
Decision: The minutes were agreed as an accurate record from the previous meeting.
Item 5a: Withnell Health Centre patient and public engagement
The report shared that a public engagement exercise was undertaken during September and October 2023 working closely with patients of Withnell Health Centre. The engagement programme aims to support the procurement process and consisted of patients and public in the local area being asked to provide feedback on the service provided by Withnell Health Centre and to indicate what, if anything, could be improved about the service currently on offer.
Patients have also been asked to identify what aspects of primary care provision they feel are most important to them.The feedback from the patient engagement exercise is summarised in the evaluation report shared today. The report is intended to be used to support the development of the service specification and to support the procurement process.
The committee noted appreciation for the public and patients in Withnell Health Centre who have been involved in and contributed to the patient engagement work to date.
Decision: The committee noted the contents of the report and the approach to engagement and involvement.
Withnell Health Centre request for Information Outcome
The committee were introduced to the report which described that the existing contract for providing services at the Withnell Health Centre is due to expire on 30 September 2024. The ICB in preparation to award a new contract for those services needs to decide on the most appropriate procurement route to secure those services.
To support this decision-making process, in August 2023 the Primary Care Commissioning Committee approved a recommendation to carry out market engagement in the form of publication of a Request for Information (RFI). The report confirmed that there was interest in this opportunity from multiple providers and two completed the request for information.
The paper concludes that, based on the new Provider Selection Regime guidance, two routes can be used, specifically the Most Suitable Provider or Competitive Procedure. In recognition of the recent market engagement exercise and the proportionality, timeliness and similarity in robustness of the process, it is considered that the competitive procedure would be the recommended process to choose a provider. This process would be based on the new ICB Procurement Evaluation Strategy (PES) agreed by the Committee at its October 2023 meeting and significantly informed by patient feedback. This would include patient involvement in evaluation.
The Chief Operating Officer informed the committee that following a number of queries which have been received, additional reassurance on the national guidance has been sought from a specialist legal adviser and the NHS England policy team. Some of this additional information has been received on the morning of the committee and so could not be reviewed in detail which may be a consideration for the committee in making a decision.
Decision: The committee decided that it is important to consider additional legal guidance prior to making a decision and therefore it will need to come back to a future committee.
Item 5b: Market Engagement for Special Allocation Scheme
Following a direct award by the Primary Care Contracting Group (PCCG) in March 2023, the contract for the Special Allocation Scheme (SAS) service remains with the current provider FCMS Ltd until 31st May 2024. To ensure continued access to General Medical Services (GMS) for patients currently allocated to the SAS, the Primary Care Commissioning Committee (PCCC) approved at its meeting on 9 November 2023 the request for a market engagement exercise to determine the best option for the ongoing service provision for these patients.
Decision: The committee noted the results of the Request For Information. A detailed options appraisal will be prepared for a future committee meeting to determine the best option.
Item 5c: Dental Commissioning Plan
A report sought approval for the costed dental commissioning plan for 2024/25. The plan is primarily based on the dental access and oral health improvement programme which was previously received and agreed by the Committee at its meeting in September 2023 and ICB Board at its meeting in November 2023. The plan is affordable within the ICB dental budget allocations.
Decision: The Committee received the dental commissioning plan, provided feedback and requested that the plan was brought back to a future meeting once the wider ICB financial planning process was complete.
Item 6 (a): Group Escalation and Assurance Report (Authored by Group Chairs)
The committee were highlighted on the key matters, issues, and risks discussed at the below group meetings since the last report to the Committee on 14 December 2023 to advise, assure and alert the Primary Care Commissioning Committee.