EASTLEIGH NORTH & EASTLEIGH SOUTHERN PARISHES LOCALITIES
"What is PBC and How Lond Has It Been in Existence?"
"PBC" stands for Practice Based Commissioning. PBC has been in planning stages for three years and is now being developed to deliver results.
"What does PBC involve?"
PBC enpowers your local GP Surgery to identify service that you currently receive at big acute hospitals such as Southampton Genteral Hospital and the Royal Hants County Hospital with a view to actually providing the same quality service in your locality. This means that, if appropriate, you will not have to travel to these big hospitals for your treatment or consultation.
Please bear in mind that not all services may be delivered locally and that some conditions are more serious and need to be delivered at the acute level.
"What is the Point of Doing This?"
It is in the best interest of each patient if their consultation or treatment can be provided much closer to home and thereby extremely valuable time and healthcare funding can be saved.
For example, if a consultant sees Diabetic patients at an acute hospital in a session he can only see 3 or 4 patients at a cost of around £1000. If patients are seen at their local Diabetic Clinic then in the same session 6 or more patiens may be seen at a cost of around £300.
The purpose in developing Practice Based Commissioning is to:-
Improve the pateint experience
Improve patient's quality of life
Provide locally based services
Reduce attendances at acute hospitals
Reduce healthcare costs
"So This is Just A Cost Cutting Exercise?"
The Department of Health has stated that financial resouses that are freed up by providing local services must be reinvested in further development fo localised services. So, where savings are mad they will be ploughed back into developing yet more local healthcare services. Patients benefits.
"How Do You Decide Which Services to Provide Locally?"
Each GP Surgery has a list of registered patients. Some fo those patients have long term conditions that require frequent visits to acute hospital. Some patients have conditions that may develop into long term illness later in life. These groups of patients help to identify services that my be provided locally to save those patients having to attend aucte hospitals.
"What is the Public Involvement in Developing Local Services
Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) demands that the local community is consulted before any firm proposal is submitted to develop local services. There are a number of ways to achieve this:
Consulting with patients by means of Surgery Posters and leaflets
By Features in local and fre Newspapers
By direct patient contact
By inviting patients to join a service development group
Consultation with the Local Authority through Borough Councillors
"What PBC Work Has Been Undertaken So Far?"
Research has been undertaken into the numbers of patients who frequently attend acute hospitals with the following results;
DIABETIC Patients who experience a development of their condition and who need to start insulin medication. Your local GP surgeries have qualified staff that can provide this service.
PLUMONARY REHABILITATION patients who are or who may become functionally disabled both physically and psychologically by chronic breathing conditions such as asthma and other airflow obstructions. Local management sessions can be set up to manage the condition.
HEART FAILURE patients who have or may develop chronic heart failure can be assessed and then started on a course of treatment to manage and support the condition. Local assessment services can be introduced to set up condition management plans for each patient.
PATIENTS ATTENDING ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS particularly during the evening and at weekends who more appropriately should be seen locally. A service can be introduced to advise and treat patients to save them having to attend A&E and endure long waits.
"How Will Practice Based Commissioning Develop in the Furture?"
The conditions identified in the paragraph above are just the start in developing local services. If you or someone in your family group receives treatment at a acute hospital that you believe may be suitable to be delivered locally then let your GP know. From your comments GPs will be alble to consider what future services may be provided locally and can research the feasibility of delivering those services.
"GET INVOLVED"
All of the above services are in the planning stages and comments from the local community are welcome. You cna pass your comments to you GP surgery about what services you think may be delivered locally.