Agenda item

Councillor Nurullah Turan, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, referred to a recent email to councillors about the measles outbreak and MMR. 

He was pleased to report that the Council had received about £4m funding for a new GP clinic on Andover Estate.  The existing GP clinic on the Estate was due to close as it had been taken over by a private developer, unfortunately sold by its previous owner.  The new developers were due to contribute to the new health centre and the Council was working with them. The new clinic would be on the Newington Barrow Way site and would be a state of the art establishment.  All the proposals had been approved in the previous week.

He was also pleased to report that the GP closure he had mentioned at a previous Committee, based in New North Road, would no longer close, as the GP had managed to find a partner, which was apparently unusual. This would mean 1800 patients would not have to move to another GP service or find another pharmacy service as there was one on site.

He also drew the Committee’s attention to recent news about the development of  two new Alzheimers drugs.  These treatments significantly slowed symptom progression of Alzheimers disease and were most effective when given as early as possible. A decision was expected from drug regulators this year as to whether they could be approved for use in the UK. The treatment could mean the end of Alzheimers disease, offering hope that one day it might be considered a long-term condition, with people managing their symptoms and living full lives. However, only a relatively small number of people were likely to be able to access them as the majority of people were diagnosed quite late.  However, because services were so well connected in Islington, the Borough was one of the leading places for dementia diagnosis.  The Alzheimers Society had unofficially described Islington as a “Dementia Friendly” Borough.

One of the issues discussed at Healthwatch Islington was private care access, where Islington councillors raised the issue of the challenges faced by ethnic minority groups and the changes required. Healthwatch Islington had requested Healthwatch England to reserve a space on the Healthwatch London agenda to ask how others  had used the Healthwatch England report to influence delivery and see how good practice might be implemented in Islington.  Healthwatch Islington were also developing a strategy to get more men involved in their research.

A meeting had been held with the London Medical Council in the previous week, where he had been informed that fewer older patients were coming through for consultation. He had asked for figures and would take it up with next week’s ICB meeting.

He had visited a surgery, the Miller Practice, and one of the issues raised was the estate. A visit had taken place to Pharmacy First in Newington Green, where things were working, although when discussed with LMC, concerns had been raised about the likely overprescription of antibiotics.  He had heard a description of an older patient who had been prescribed antibiotics, after complaining of a pain in his throat, which could be a symptom of throat cancer, which was missed.  There were obviously risks associated with Pharmacy First and he suggested that the situation be monitored.

He also asked to be kept aware of any pharmacies which were refusing to accept sharps bins for home use as they were meant to accept them.  It could be due to lack of funds but, if made aware of it, the ICB would investigate.

Finally, ear wax removal services were no longer available on the NHS, although 2-3 million people per year used the service. However, NICE guidance was that the service should be provided by GPs through microsuction. However, national services provision were patchy or not available. GP contracts no longer paid for this service.

Councillor Turan undertook to look into an issue raised by Councillor Burgess, relating to the presence of a large van on the Whittington Hospital site advertising “affordable mobile digital imaging”.