The Health Scrutiny Committee discussed the performance of the Pharmacy First scheme, the results of a consultation with the public about health services in Telford and Wrekin, and the Committee's work programme. Councillors asked for more information to be brought to future meetings about how the Pharmacy First scheme is being publicised and requested an update on access to dentistry.

Primary Care Recovery Access Plan

Councillors received an update on the progress of the Primary Care Recovery Plan, which was discussed at the previous meeting.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB)¹ told Councillors that the scheme, under which people are encouraged to visit a pharmacist as the first point of contact for minor health issues, had been hampered by a lack of data about how it was performing. The ICB also reported that plans to improve access to GP appointments by requiring practices to offer online booking had been delayed.

The Committee heard that the focus for the next quarter was on the self-referral service . The ICB reported that all community pharmacists were signed up to this service but that it was too early to tell how effective it had been.

Councillors expressed concern about the lack of publicity for the scheme.

Members raised their concerns regarding advertisement of NHS schemes, particularly around primary care and the services in pharmacies, and requested further information be presented at a later meeting.

Councillors asked if funding was available from Section 106 agreements² to improve access to GP surgeries.

Were there facilities under the planning process for s106 monies to be used for development of primary care facilities and to support existing GPs?

The Committee was also told about a scheme to allow GPs to prescribe medication more easily by giving them access to a wider range of medications, such as antibiotics, than they previously had access to.

Councillors expressed concern about difficulties residents had reported booking dentist appointments. The Associate Director of Primary Care for the ICB told the meeting that the issues with dentistry were a national problem, which was reflected in the fact that the national recovery plan for dentistry included measures to improve it.

Feedback from the recent Big Conversation

Councillors discussed the results of a public consultation exercise about health and social care in Telford and Wrekin that had recently been undertaken. The consultation, called the Big Conversation , was run by Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin³ on behalf of the ICB.

The Committee heard that the responses to the consultation showed that the things that mattered most to people were access to GPs, access to dentists, and mental health services.

Work Programme Review

The Committee discussed its work programme for the coming year. It agreed to add an item on the performance of the Pharmacy First scheme to its next meeting.

Councillors also asked for an update on access to dentistry in the borough.