Shropshire Star

Shropdoc contract extension on cards

The not-for-profit company that provides Shropshire's out-of-hours GP service could have its contract extended by two years ahead of a new integrated care system launching in 2018, under new plans.

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The future of Shropdoc, which has been operated by GPs in the county for 20 years, is under review and may be replaced with another provider or merged with the national 111 helpline advice and assessment line.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups will hold an extraordinary general meeting next week to discuss the options. But it is recommended they allow Shropdoc to continue for two years under new arrangements to provide services in accordance with the new national commissioning standards.

Under the proposals, providers will be invited to bid to run the out-of-hours service, which would be integrated with other local services, from April 2018.

New commissioning standards for integrated urgent care were published in September 2015 expecting commissioners to deliver a fundamental redesign of the NHS urgent care "front door".

Under plans for an integrated service, there will be 24/7 access to all urgent care services through the NHS 111 hotline service.

Clinical hubs would also be created consisting of a wide range of clinicians, both generalist and specialist, offering advice to patients, health advisors, and health professionals working in the community. A presentation on the proposed changes was given to Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council's joint health overview and scrutiny committee, on behalf of both CCGs, on Friday.

The committee was told the way the 111 and out-of-hours services are currently run do not meet the required standards.

The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn, in St Quentin Gate, Telford, at 5.30pm on Wednesday and is open to the public.

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