General Practice Premises Policy Review call for solutions: NHS Clinical Commissioners' response
Consideration needs to be given to premises across the NHS estate not just within general practice.
We have responded to the General Practice Premises Policy Review’s call for solutions which is being jointly undertaken by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.
In our response, NHSCC fed in some key issues that our members have raised through our CCG Customer Board which is delivered in partnership with NHS Property Services – bringing together CCG estates leads with senior management in NHS Property Services. Since the board’s inception, our members have noted some improvements, for example regarding billing and the use of vacant space. However, we know that our members continue to face challenges in relation to premises. As such we highlighted the following key issues in our response:
- Results of the General Practice Premises Policy Review need to be aligned with those of the GP Partnership Review and longer-term NHS planning.
- Consideration needs to be given to premises across the whole NHS estate, not just within general practice – particularly within the context of integrated delivery.
- Specific issues in general practice premises policy need to be addressed. These include the property risk associated with GP ownership, the limited and short-term nature of funds available to improve general practice premises, and continued feelings of distrust in relation to the running of NHS estates.
