Agenda item - NHS 111 Update

21.1    This item was introduced by Colin Simmons, 111 Programme Director; and Kerry Exley, Coastal CCG.

21.2    Coastal West Sussex CCG is leading the procurement of a new 111 (non-urgent NHS telephone service) contract for Sussex, but all seven Sussex CCGs are responsible for the contract and are actively involved in the project.

21.3    The current contract (with SECAmb) has been extended for 12 months to give sufficient time for a proper re-procurement to be undertaken. This contract is with 17 CCGs across Sussex and Surrey. The new contract will be for five years with an option to extend for a further two years, and will include break clauses. The tender process is expected to begin in January 2018, with a contract award in September 2018 and phased implementation beginning in 2019.

21.4    The Sussex GP Out of Hours (OOH) contract is being re-commissioned together with the 111 contract as it has been recognised that the two services are closely linked, and it is crucial that they are able to work together effectively. This is not always possible currently - for instance, there are IT incompatibilities that mean that patient information can sometimes not be readily accessed or shared. Currently OOH services have some access to records, but 111 has none. Under new arrangements both services should have ready access at least to patient summary care records, and the expectation is that clinicians should be able to access full patient records in read-only mode.

21.5    The new 111 contract will be Sussex only so as to provide more potential for flexibility should changes to local urgent care systems require a flexing of the contract terms.

21.6    In response to a question from Cllr West on how the new 111 services would better support other NHS services, members were told that a more effective 111 service will relieve pressure on other parts of the NHS by sign-posting patients to the most suitable service. For example, 111 will have prescribing pharmacists who will be able to issue prescriptions electronically which can be picked up the next day at a local pharmacy. This should reduce pressure on OOH services for repeat prescriptions.

21.7    In answer to a question from Cllr Morris on whether progress would be reported back to the HOSC, Mr Simmons offered to report back both before the tender begins (e.g. December 2017) and also to give an update one year on. Members agreed that this would be helpful.

21.8    In response to a query from Cllr Janio about whether it would be possible to provide a single point of access rather than 111 and 999, members were assured that all calls to 111 are initially assessed to see if they need to be transferred to 999. There is also the facility to transfer less urgent 999 calls to 111.

21.9    In answer to a query on public engagement from Fran McCabe, the committee was informed that it was recognised that good public engagement is key here. A 111 Communications Manager has already been appointed and there will be extensive public and stakeholder engagement as the tender progresses.

21.10  The Chair thanked the presenters.