Kendall Crescent
Wolvercote Branch Surgery
Report on public consultation
Author(s): Julia Stackhouse, Communications & Engagement Officer
Status: Draft version 1
Date: 10 July 2011
Contents
1. About NHS OxfordshireP. 3 & 4
2. Executive SummaryP. 5
2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 The Engagement process
- 2.3 Key findings from the consultation
3. BackgroundP. 6 & 7
3.1 Kendall Crescent & Wolvercote branch surgery background
4. EngagementP. 7, 8 & 9
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Methodology
- 4.3 Main findings from engagementp. 10
- 4.3.1 The Questionnairep. 10 & 11
- 4.3.2 The narrative themesp. 11 & 12
5. General SupportP. 13
6. Suggestions made by respondentsP. 14
7. Next StepsP. 14
8. ThanksP. 14
Appendix 1 – The Questionnaire
Appendix 2 – Letter to patients
Appendix 3 – Press release
Appendix 4 – Public Briefing document
Appendix 5 – 2nd Letter to patients
About NHS Oxfordshire
NHS Oxfordshire, part of the NHS Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Cluster[1], is a Primary Care Trust (PCT) and serves a population of around 630,000.
We are ambitious about improving the health and wellbeing of local people. NHS Oxfordshire intends that, by 2013, the people of Oxfordshire will:
- be healthier, particularly if they are vulnerable or live in our most deprived communities
- be working with NHS Oxfordshire to promote physical and mental wellbeing and prevent ill health
- be actively supported to manage their health and care needs at home when this is appropriate
- have access to high quality, personalised, safe and appropriate health services
- get excellent value from their local health services
Oxfordshire is the most rural county in south east England and has a large geographical area to cover as well as a diverse population to serve. The population of Oxfordshire ranges from a predominantly older, white population in the rural areas to very ethnically diverse populations in Banbury and Oxford city where one third of the population are students.
NHS Oxfordshire works with our communities and our partners to improve health in the area and to make sure that local people’s needs are being met. We also work with organisations from the voluntary, private and community sectors so that we can make sure that the organisations providing health and social care services are working effectively.
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2. Executive summary
2.1 Introduction
The aim of the Kendall Crescent & Wolvercote Branch surgery consultation was to gather views from patients,the local community and other key stakeholders on the proposed options for future GP services for the registered population and local communityclose to thesurgeries.
The consultation started on 11th April 2011 and ended on 10th July 2011.
This document reports on responses to the consultation and provides details of activityundertaken to engage members of the public, other stakeholders and staff.
2.2 The engagementprocess
During the engagementprocess we undertook the following activities:
- An online survey via Talking Health
- A health event at Cutteslowe Community Centre
- Two open drop-in sessions at the practice locations
- Paper copies of the survey were available in the practices (Appendix 1)
- A press release was sent out (appendix 3)
- Information was cascaded to individuals, local groups and organisations in the area (appendix 4)
- The Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and LINk were involved from an early stage of the process and were kept informed throughout the consultation
2.3 Key finding from the consultation
Of the 193 people that respond the majority chose option 1 – to commission a provider of GP services for the existing patient list using the current premises on both sites.
A number of people chose Option 2 but only to protect their preferred surgery.
A very small number of people felt that if the surgeries were to close they would prefer to be served from Summertown Health Centre, the current provider of GP services at Kendall Crescent and Wolvercote, going forward or would have chosen Option 3 or 4.
The main concern for respondents was the high number of very elderly patients registered and using the GP services at Kendall Crescentand Wolvercote . There was concern over this population accessing services elsewhereciting mobility issues; lack of car ownership and usage, and that the elderly would find using public transport very difficult especially if they were disabled or unwell. It was suggested that this could impact on an increase in the amount of GP call-outs for home visits.
Respondents felt that the standard of service that they were currently receiving from Summertown Health Centre was good and they would like it to continue.
Patients felt that with the increase of housing planned for the Wolvercote area a branch surgery is a vital in supporting future health needs locally.
Respondents were anxious that the Wolvercote Branch Surgery was given to the community for community use over 70 years ago.
3. Background
NHS Oxfordshire (PCT) is responsible for ensuring GP services are in place for people living in Oxfordshire. As part of this responsibility, the PCT is required to make decisions about what kind of GP surgeries and services should be provided to meet the current and future health need of local people.
3.1 Kendall Crescent & Wolvercote branch surgery background:
For an interim period of one year Summertown Health Centre is providing GP services at Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery. This interim period will finish at the end of November 2011. This means the PCT has to decide how GP services for patients registered at and people living locally to Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery can be provided in the future.
The previous GP who held the contract to provide GP services at Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery gave notice on his contract – this was terminated on 1st December 2010. NHS Oxfordshire put in place an interim arrangement with Summertown Health Centre to provide GP services from both locations whilst future options for providing the service could be explored. The interim arrangement ends on 30 November 2011.
The current patient list size acrossKendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery is 1479.
Below are the four options that the PCT consulted on for the future of Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery:
- Commission a provider of GP services for the existing patient list using the current premises on both sites
Patients would see little or no visible change to the provision of GP services.
- Close Wolvercote Branch Surgery and commission a provider of GP services for the existing patient list using only the Kendall Crescent Health Centre premises
All patients currently receiving their GP care at Wolvercote Branch Surgery would receive their care at Kendall Crescent Health Centre. Those patients currently receiving their care at Kendall Crescent Health Centre would see little or no visible change to the provision of GP services.
- Close both surgeries and commission a provider of GP services for the existing patient list from different premises – such as the premises of another local practice or another site
All patients currently registered at Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery would transfer to a new provider of GP services; they would receive their care from a different location from either an existing practice location in or close to Oxford or in premises occupied by another provider of GP services.
- Close the surgeries and disperse the patient list by offering patients the choice of registering with other practices in the local area
If the surgeries were closed and the patient list dispersed the PCT wouldprovide information about other local practices so that patients can make the choice about registering with other practices. The PCT would write to patients and offer them the choice of other practices, there are currently several practices situated within the Kendall Crescent practice boundary. There are a further three practices in Kidlington and while these are outside the practice boundary we know that patients registered with Kendall Crescent are spread widely. The PCT would also offer assistance via a telephone helplineand provide information to patients about travel times and public transport.
4. Engagement
4.1 Introduction
Between 11 April 2011 to 10 July 2011, NHS Oxfordshire sought feedback from patients registered at Kendall Crescent Health Centre and Wolvercote Branch Surgery and the local community on the future of the surgeries.
4.2 Methodology
The consultation began on 11th April 2011 with information launched on the NHS Oxfordshire – Talking Health website and letters (appendices 2 & 5) sent to the 1,479 patients registered at the two surgeries.
Patient information
The letter to patients included the dates of the consultation period, details of the drop-insessions and contact details for comments. A consultation briefing was enclosed with theletter, explaining why the PCT needs to make a decision and what the possible options are for the future health services in the area . (Appendices 2 & 5)
Talking Health
The Talking Health website contained detailed information about the consultation, including the consultation briefing and patient survey. Details of the public drop-in sessions and howcomments could be made were also included.
Press release
A press release was sent out at the beginning of the consultation period. This was reported by the following, please see appendix 3:
- Oxford Times website
- Oxford Journal - the Oxfordshire LINK included the information to their members on their website. local website called Challenge Oxfordshire also publicised the news release - Knowle Health Centre - questionnaire
The questionnaire was launched via the NHS Oxfordshire on-line consultation tool Talking Health and was also made available in a paper version which was distributed at the meetings attended during the process. Members of Talking Health were directly invited to join the consultation.They were selected both by the area they lived in (North Oxford, Wolvercote, Cutteslowe, Wytham and surrounding post codes) and their interest and preferences.
In all 89people registered to join the consultation and responded to the questionnaireonline and 71responded in paper format by post. Please see appendix 1.
Drop-in sessions
During the consultation period two informal drop-in sessions were held. One at Kendall Crescent Health Centre from 5pm – 6.30pm and the other at the Wolvercote Branch Surgery from 2.30 – 4pm. These sessions were held at different times on different dates to give people an opportunity to share their views with PCT staff in ‘face to face’ meetings and to explore the consultation proposals further.
Health Fair
NHS Oxfordshire in partnership with the Oxford City Council’s put on a health fair for local residents. Various agencies from the voluntary sector were also invited to have stands and the local fire service provided a fire engine for the event. The purpose of the event was to provide another opportunity for local people to ‘drop-in’, find out about the consultation and speak to PCT staff. Other health related information was also share with local residents. The health event took place at Cutteslowe Community Centre on 23rd May from 3pm – 7pm.
Stakeholder promotion and engagement
The PCT met with the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee early on to inform them of the consultation process and they have been kept informed of the process throughout.
On 11 August 2010NHS Oxfordshire contacted the Oxfordshire Local Involvement Network (LINKs)to discuss the temporary arrangement with both the surgeries and met with them on 12 August 2010. The PCT enlisted the helpof the LINKs to survey patients about the services provided at both surgeries.
The results of this survey have helped to inform the recent consultation.
Information about the consultation was shared with the local community newsletter in Wolvercote.
Staff Engagement
Posters about the consultation were displayed in local GP practices and paper questionnaires were made available at reception on the GP surgeries concerned and at Summertown Health Centre. The consultation was also publicised to staff via the monthly Talking Health newsletter.
4.3 Main findings from engagement
In total 193people responded to the consultation, in the following ways:
- 89 people responded to the questionnaire online
- 71responded in paper format by post.
- 21 letters were received
- 12 responses were received by email.
Of the 193people that respond the majority chose option 1 – to commission a provider of GP services for the existing patient list using the current premises on both sites.
A number of people chose Option 2 but only to protect their preferred surgery.
A very small number of people felt that if the surgeries were to close they would prefer to be served from Summertown Health Centre going forward or would have chosen Option 3 or 4.
The main concern for respondents was that there is a high number of very elderly patients in the Wolvercote and Kendall Crescent areas who, due to mobility issues and lack of cars would find using public transport very difficult especially when disabled or unwell. The impact of the transport issues would mean that there would be an increase in doctor’s being called out.
Respondents felt that the standard of service that they were currently receiving from Summertown Health Centre was good and should continue.
There was wide concern that the building that currently serves the Wolvercote Branch Surgery was given to the community for community use over 70 years ago. Patients felt that with the increase of housing planned for the area the branch surgery is a vital asset that should be maintained.
4.3.1 The Questionnaire
For those people that responded to the questionnaire we asked some specific questions about their preferences when choosing a doctors surgery. Of those that responded 74 people were registered at Kendall Crescent and 98 were registered at Wolvercote. 29of these people regarded themselves as a carer of someone who uses the practices.
We asked the following questions of respondents to get in an indication of people’s preferences when choosing a GP practice and to understand what is important to residents in this area.
For the majority of respondents being able to walk to their practice of the was very important. 97 patients also wanted to be able to see the same doctor. For those respondents that provided a narrative response, this was used to reinforce the options given in the question. No new suggestions were made.
99 people felt that they would only want to travel less than a mile to get to their doctors compared with 6 people who said they would travel more than 3 miles.
All of the responses to the questionnaires came from patients in the OX2 area of Oxford; only 2 responses were from outside this area. The OX2 postcode covers the following areas in Oxford: Botley, Chawley, Cumnor, Farmoor, North Hinksey, Osney, Summertown, Sunnymead, Wolvercote and Wytham.
4.3.2 The narrativethemes
There were some strong themes which cut across all the engagement approaches. The comments and issues below are drawn from the questionnaire, letters and meetings with individuals. These are listed below in order of strength of feelings and range of mentions:
Transport
The majority of respondents raised concerns relating to transport and accessibility. This can be broken down into the following areas:
- Concern about the lack of transport between Wolvercote and Kendall Crescent. To travel between these two locations would require taking 2 buses and making a short walk to the surgeries.
- Patients are concerned about the elderly and the infirm being unable to access public transport due to mobility issues.
- Concern about the cost to patients who are elderly, needing to use public transport for frequent visits to the doctors
- Concern about the cost of Taxi’s to get to the doctors
- A number of people don’t drive and are reliant on walking or public transport
- Some patients are wheelchair bound and can only access the surgeries with assistance.
- Concern about young mums using the public transport with pushchairs.
‘I am 102yrs and probably could use public transport but my family won’t let me now’
‘It is not feasible for the disabled, elderly and mothers with young children to get two buses to reach Kendall Crescent or Kidlington. We all haven’t got cars’.
Local Amenities
A theme throughout the responses from those patients at Wolvercote Branch Surgery was concern about the loss of a valued local service. Wolvercote has grown in population in recent years and there is more plannedhousing to come. There has been a decrease in local services to the village and there is genuine concern that during inclement weather the village is cut off. The surgery is a vital service that many people feel should be maintained.
‘Having had a surgery for past and present generations it is very important to
keep it for future generations’.
‘Wolvercote Surgery was given to the community as an amenity for future generations. Therefore there should be no thoughts of ever closing it’.
Service provision
There was a general feeling that the service currently being delivered at both surgeries by Summertown Health Centre was good. It was recognised that a more permanent solution was needed for both surgeries but generally it was felt that if a good standard of service was maintained then patients would be encouraged back to the surgeries to re-register. This in turn would increase the patient list size of both the surgeries and in turn re-inforce the need to keep both surgeries open.
‘If the Wolvercote Surgery is closed I think the pressure on Kendall Crescent would be too great and I should find it more difficult to get an appointment’..
‘Doctors we have seen have been excellent, very thorough, considerate and pleasant in their manner, we now have confidence in treatment we are now getting’.