NEWS: Protests erupt over NHS care overhaul

As reported by GP Online, activists in Oxfordshire oppose major changes to GP services, fearing loss of personalised care and potential health risks, as local health authorities push for a new model

But the Keep Our NHS Public Oxfordshire branch has vowed to stand against these proposed changes and has called for the traditional GP model to remain in place. The group staged a protest with 20 of its members outside Oxford’s County Council hall on Thursday, 18 April, where a meeting between the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC), councillors and the ICB took place about the proposed changes.

Campaign group chair Elizabeth Peretz said: ‘We are against the changes because they are being pushed from above. They have not been tried and tested. In the group’s view it would spell the end of what we know as the family doctor and your local GP surgery.’

Family doctor at risk

She continued: ‘My biggest fear is we will lose that connection with our surgery and if we lose that people will get really sick and they won’t go near anything until they get to A&E. We have an amazing system as it is and someone is trying to tear the heart out of it.

‘I see my children and grandchildren having to face what they do in the USA and other parts of the world.’

Oxford GP Dr Helen Salisbury told the Banbury Guardian that the plans would mean patients with complex medical histories would be attached to a GP while other patients would be directed to separate hubs staffed by other healthcare staff, supervised by a GP.

She warned that early signs of serious conditions might be missed and that insights a GP may have gained from continuity of care could be lost.

Patient engagement

JHOSC confirmed to GPonline that at the meeting it recommended that the ICB ensures continuous stakeholder engagement around the primary care strategy and its implementation.

The committee also recommended a clear implementation plan to be developed as part of the primary care strategy and for this to be shared with the JHOSC and key stakeholders.

The Keep Our NHS Public Oxfordshire chair said: ‘It’s a start. I am cautiously optimistic.’

Oxfordshire LMC chair Dr Gareth Evans said that most people on the LMC support the view that the future of general practice is in continuity of care and adequate funding, ‘which will lead to better outcomes and cost efficiencies in the long run’. He said with any type of hub solution, GPs and patients would want to understand what the benefits are.

Consultation

A spokesperson from the BOB ICB said its plans were developed with local practices and other health and care professionals to improve access to primary care services including general practice, optometry, dentistry and community pharmacy.

The spokesperson said a final plan would be considered for approval by BOB ICB in May 2024 ‘with an expected roll-out later in the year’.

BOB ICB said it would publish a report on public engagement around the primary care plans in May.

Campaigners are planning further protests later this year – and plan to work with campaigners in London who helped block plans for same-day GP access in north London.

In March, North West London ICB backed down on plans to implement same day access GP appointments after patients and GPs raised concerns. Londonwide LMCs flagged several issues including the suggestion that a single GP should hold the clinical responsibility for over 100 patient encounters in a day.