Achievements and next steps
In the next year we will deliver our vision, concentrating most effort on three ‘golden threads’ that connect all our work:
- Delivering the service redesigns for care for three types of patient – those with:
- long-term conditions
- older people
- patients needing unscheduled care
- Delivering the quality and cost improvements we have planned for the year in these three areas and beyond
- Making changes at the Queen Mary’s, Sidcup campus
Each of these areas is a starting point for a broader programme of work in which we take accountability for budgets and delegated authority in the above areas from April 2012, with our consortium authorised by the NHS Commissioning Board in April 2013.
Timeline
September 2010
Bexley GPs back revolutionary NHS proposals
Twenty seven of the 28 GP practices in Bexley responded to a survey carried out by Bexley Care Trust, committing to take on day-to-day commissioning work under the auspices of Bexley Care Trust.
December 2010
Bexley becomes a pathfinder
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley declares Bexley as one of the countries first pathfinders.
January 2011
GPs vote for cabinet members in ‘consortium’ election
Cabinet members are elected in by a vote by GPs in Bexley.
February 2011
Bexley GPs launch a work plan
The launch of a prospectus – highlighting the cabinet's vision, aims, pledges, commissioning intentions and work plan – enabled GPs to identify what needs to be done to achieve delegated authority by 2013.
March 2011
GPs in the borough meet to discuss the future of healthcare in Bexley
The first engagement event was an opportunity for GPs to discuss priorities for healthcare in Bexley, increase understanding of the new role for GPs, ask questions, raise concerns and start to address challenges.
April 2011
Bexley GPs submit a proposal to create and develop a health campus at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup
Plans for new services at Queen Mary’s Hospital were submitted to NHS London by local GPs and the London Borough of Bexley. The proposal highlights how high-quality services are to meet the changing needs of people in Bexley.
May 2011
Bexley GPs draft a constitution
Bexley Clinical Cabinet drafts a set of guidelines to work towards under a consortium set-up.
June 2011
Bexley launches London’s first patient council
Bexley GPs are the first in London to launch a patient council, giving local people the opportunity to influence the way health services are provided in the borough.
Bexley GPs meet for the second time to discuss consortium developments
The second engagement event was an opportunity for GPs to discuss the constitution and Quality, Innovation, Prevention and Productivity (QIPP) agenda, GP constitution and other relevant issues.
September 2011
Bexley GPs feature in Panorama
Bexley GPs featured in a special edition of Panorama, where Sir Gerry Robinson examines the government’s health reforms. Bexley’s cardiology scheme was used as an example of clinical commissioning.
Bexley Patient Council to support local GPs
Bexley Patient Council met for the first time, to begin to establish its support for GPs in the borough as they take on financial and decision-making responsibility for local health services.
Bexley Clinical Cabinet meeting held in public
Bexley Clinical Cabinet was one of the first pathfinders in London to hold a meeting in public, inviting local people and partner organisations. Meetings will be held in public every two months, ensuring local people are up to date with the decisions made about healthcare. Visit the meetings page for more information, papers and future meeting dates.
GPs get together for the third time to discuss healthcare in Bexley
More than 80 GPs, practice managers and nurse practitioners met for the third time this year, as part of Bexley Clinical Cabinet’s plans to take on responsibility for healthcare in the borough.
October 2011
Bexley GPs praised by Times column writer as “the most successful GP consortium I have visited…”
A BBC feature, asking commentators to consider why the health bill is controversial, includes an article from Times writer Camilla Cavendish, who says: “Competition and GP commissioning... began under Labour. The most successful GP consortium I have visited, in Bexley, started in 2007.”
Bexley Clinical Cabinet holds its second meeting in public
Bexley Clinical Cabinet meetings are held in public every two months, ensuring local people are up to date with the decisions made about healthcare. Visit the meetings page for more information, meeting papers and future meeting dates.
Recruitment underway to appoint a senior nurse to the Bexley Clinical Cabinet board
Bexley Clinical Cabinet is looking to appoint a nurse. The successful candidate will help to prioritise and inform commissioning intentions, provide clinical leadership, contribute to discussions and lead on a particular service area for development. Appointments will be made in early December.
Bexley Clinical Cabinet Chair appointed to influential pharmacy and public health forum
Bexley Clinical Cabinet Chair Dr Howard Stoate was appointed to the Pharmacy and Public Health Forum.
The forum provides leadership for the development, implementation and evaluation of pharmacists’ role in public health in the light of the government’s health and social care bill.
November
- Appointing GP clinical leads
- GPs to undertake peer reviews in their localities
December
- Final GP engagement event for 2011
- Nurse appointment to Bexley Clinical Cabinet
- Bexley Clinical Cabinet holds third meeting in public
