A northwest London health board has shelved their plans to use same-day access (SDA) hubs after backlash from campaigners regarding patient safety concerns.
Northwest London Integrated Care System (ICS) was due to start using same-day access hubs in April.
This would have meant that on the day GP appointments would have been pre-assessed by healthcare professionals. These include the likes of physician associates, but not doctors.
Physician associates have two years of medical training as opposed to the five to seven years of training that doctors have.
NHS North West London said the proposals have been “misinterpreted” by patient groups, GPs and primary care networks (PCNs).
They are putting them on hold to allow more time to work with them to clarify the plans.
NHS North-West London’s plans to use same-day access hubs have been met with backlash from the community. Credit: Associated Press
In a letter to local GP practices, NHS North West London said the hubs “will not form part of the single offer for enhanced services for 2024/25.
“We have listened to your concerns and areas where you have sought clarification”, they said. “We have always been clear that we want this programme to develop with you and in collaboration with patients.”
Robin Sharp, chair of Brent Patient Voice, and a local resident is 88 years old and suffered a recent fall. He told City News that his experience left him fearful for what might have been.
“After my fall, I had some treatment from the doctor I’m working with, who said ‘I can treat you for the back pain, but why did you fall?’”. Robert was referred for further investigations.
Following these, a doctor, who Robert described as “very experienced and intelligent” and who had knowledge of his medical history, changed the dosage of one of the medications he was on.
“If I’d been referred to some anonymous clinic or same-day hub where a care coordinator without any serious medical training had been talking to me, where would we have got to… they could have missed something quite important”.
He said, “They seem to be influenced by corporate pressures, and pressures from NHS England and so on. Whereas, in my view it should be their job to stand up for the people of North West London”.
Eve Turner, secretary for the campaign group Ealing, Save Our NHS, told City News that campaigners were “Trying to defend our right to see our properly trained and medically qualified GPs”.
She says that there is “a role for physician associates, but not to replace GPs.”
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HeadlineNorthwest London GP hubs plan postponed due to resident concerns
Short HeadlinePlans for GP hubs postponed, northwest London
StandfirstPlans for same-day access hubs to be used for patients in northwest London have been put on hold due to patient concerns.
A northwest London health board has shelved their plans to use same-day access (SDA) hubs after backlash from campaigners regarding patient safety concerns.
Northwest London Integrated Care System (ICS) was due to start using same-day access hubs in April.
This would have meant that on the day GP appointments would have been pre-assessed by healthcare professionals. These include the likes of physician associates, but not doctors.
Physician associates have two years of medical training as opposed to the five to seven years of training that doctors have.
NHS North West London said the proposals have been “misinterpreted” by patient groups, GPs and primary care networks (PCNs).
They are putting them on hold to allow more time to work with them to clarify the plans.
NHS North-West London’s plans to use same-day access hubs have been met with backlash from the community. Credit: Associated Press
In a letter to local GP practices, NHS North West London said the hubs “will not form part of the single offer for enhanced services for 2024/25.
“We have listened to your concerns and areas where you have sought clarification”, they said. “We have always been clear that we want this programme to develop with you and in collaboration with patients.”
Robin Sharp, chair of Brent Patient Voice, and a local resident is 88 years old and suffered a recent fall. He told City News that his experience left him fearful for what might have been.
“After my fall, I had some treatment from the doctor I’m working with, who said ‘I can treat you for the back pain, but why did you fall?’”. Robert was referred for further investigations.
Following these, a doctor, who Robert described as “very experienced and intelligent” and who had knowledge of his medical history, changed the dosage of one of the medications he was on.
“If I’d been referred to some anonymous clinic or same-day hub where a care coordinator without any serious medical training had been talking to me, where would we have got to… they could have missed something quite important”.
He said, “They seem to be influenced by corporate pressures, and pressures from NHS England and so on. Whereas, in my view it should be their job to stand up for the people of North West London”.
Eve Turner, secretary for the campaign group Ealing, Save Our NHS, told City News that campaigners were “Trying to defend our right to see our properly trained and medically qualified GPs”.
She says that there is “a role for physician associates, but not to replace GPs.”
