ICB shelves same-day hub plans due to GP and patient backlash

Same-day access hubs will not be mandated in North West London as the Integrated Care Board (ICB) bows to pressure from GPs and patients.

In a letter to GP teams, seen by Pulse, the ICB said that their controversial same-day access programme "will not form part of the single offer for enhanced services for 2024/25".

Instead, ICB leaders said they want to work with PCNs "to consider how access can be improved" and that they do not have a "presumption" about a "particular model" all PCNs should adopt.

They are now aiming for a new model to be implemented from April next year instead.

The hub model aimed to "deliver a single point of triage for same-day, low complexity" demand for all 2.1 million residents within the integrated care system, leaving GP practices with only longer-term, "complex" care.

But London GP leaders, as well as patients, raised "immense concern" with the plans, including patient safety, quality of care, and logistics.

In response to these concerns, the ICB confirmed yesterday that it has "adjusted" the same-day hub programme, and that it wants to "move forward collectively" to address both patient access issues and GP pressures.

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Source: Pulse, 6 March 2024