NWL ICB Access 2024/2025
The ICB have confirmed staff survey results will be released by the end of January and reimbursement for Phase 1 will follow. In addition, NWL ICB are hosting two events (F2F and Virtual) on Thursday 6 February for NWL residents to hear the findings of the patient surveys. Further information can be found on the ICB website.
The deadline for Phase 2 expressions of interest (EOI) from PCNs was 10 January. However, the assessment panels have continued beyond this date to assist PCNs whose proposals needed further work prior to approval. LMC leads for the assessment panel did not take part in the decision-making process but were there to observe and assure the process. LMC leads have fed back to the ICB concerns that the process length and approach indicates it is unlikely that revised proposals can be approved, completed and resourced by year end and that the full monies will be spent in year. The ICB has offered to part fund proposals, but this may not make them viable for PCNs.
NWL ICB Access 2025/26
Looking forward, the ICB has also set up weekly meetings to develop a specification for 2025/26. The LMC wished to field LMC representation per borough but has had to restrict numbers and again has flagged this as a risk. Possible metrics and measures have not yet been agreed – we have asked the ICB to improve communications to ensure PCN engagement.
Enhanced Services
The LMC has been raising individual service issues and supporting principles with the ICB:
- Anticoagulation specification not reflecting INR software problems, where activity is not being fully covered with payments.
- Adjustments to the diabetes specification (the ICB has amended MDT staffing, testing and NDPP KPIs) and promised to look to repurposing funding.
- Further adjustments to the respiratory specification for 24/25 and 25/26, including an uplift for spirometry and a possible funding line to support FeNO equipment.
- Provision of an annual inflationary uplift to enhanced services; discussions regarding 24/25 are ongoing, you will have seen that this is referenced in the 25/26 commissioning intentions letter.
- Provision for review of thresholds for diabetic retinal screening, activity being done elsewhere and not in the control of GP practices.
Managing the Primary-Secondary Care Interface
The ICB is working with Trusts and the LMC to improve 4 priority areas:
- Onward referrals.
- Complete care (fit notes and discharge letters).
- Call and recall.
- Clear points of contact.
8 supporting workstreams have been set up with LMC representation to achieve tangible outcomes. There are continuing concerns that Hillingdon Trust has not employed a primary care liaison officer to collate and resolve GP concerns, although LMC leads continue to raise GP issues at the Trust-GP forum. The LMC has requested feedback from Primary Care Liaison Officers on what outcomes the reported service alerts are producing. A service alert process is being reviewed by the LMC to improve the current process.
NWL Pathology Service: Imperial uACR Lab Error
The LMC has asked the ICB to keep practices updated on progress and has requested a report including learning on how to prevent and manage future problems. The LMC has also requested financial support for affected GP practices, to fully recognise the duplication of work done at practice due to IHT issues.
GP Pathfinders Update Communications
The responsibility for providing other ICBs and practices update communications sits with NWL ICB, the LMC has made representations that practices who have been affected by de-registrations are compensated appropriately.