NHS Erewash CCG — Improving Access to Primary Care though the introduction of lean methodologies.

Descriptions

NHS Erewash CCG intends to appoint 1 external contractor, on a consultancy basis, to support practices to review and implement changes to their access and appointment systems. The provider will be expected to be able to offer 3 pieces of work.1. Stage 1: Carry out a review of all of NHS Erewash's GP practices current systems. This review will be described by the providers during the procurement process but we would expect it to include assessments of:— Current systems, including, but not solely related to, appointment systems,— Patient demand for practice services (including ‘inappropriate’ demand),— Practice capacity to meet patient demand,— How demand and capacity map together and gaps,— How efficiently practices are matching staff expertise and skill to patient need to maximise capacity and responsiveness.The provider will be expected to report on this review to the practice, with recommendations for further action. The practice will then consider its options, it may:— Decide not to take any further action at all,— Decide to go ahead with the recommendations without external support,— Decide to go ahead with the recommendations with support.This stage will be undertaken for all practices in the same way and the information fed back to all practices in a way that allows benchmarking across the CCG, and sharing of good practice.2. Stage 2: The provider will be asked to:— Work with those practices that have chosen to go ahead with the recommendations to implement a system within the practice that will effectively manage patient demand,— Work with the practice to communicate any change in appointment system and engage with patients,— Support the practice to sustain the change and monitor its effectiveness.3. Stage 3: The provider will be asked to explore with each practice how, and if, they feel further efficiencies could be gained by working differently, or sharing functions, across a number of practices. The provider will be expected to pull this together into a report with recommendations for change to be presented back to all practices and the CCG. Key requirements are as follows:— Carry out access review of current practice appointment system,— Present findings and potential solutions to the practices and the CCG,— Plan and schedule project timelines,— Work with the practice to implement recommendations and changes,— Monitor project deliverables,— Ongoing monitoring and reporting on progress of project and changes in access,— Coordinate and Project manage this across the whole CCG area sharing benchmarked information and best practice.