Community Voice Health

Dental Services

The PCT now provides a dedicated telephone number so that anyone providing a postcode  will be told the three nearest dental practices currently accepting NHS patients.  From January to mid April all patients obtained appointments.  An excellent service!

Delayed Transfers of Care
Daily calls to all local hospitals, Community Health Services and Adult Care Services help to resolve discharge plans for individual patients.  Recurring problems that might cause blockages  are being identified and remedied.

 Annual Health Check
The PCT still expects a score of GOOD for quality of services, despite the end of year Chlamydia screening position being worse than expected and the smoking cessation target not being met.

 However infection targets were achieved and 66% of patients were able to book appointments using “Choose and Book” -  higher than England’s average of 60%. 

 GP-led Health Centre

The commissioning of a new GP-led health centre was required by the NHS Operating Framework 2008-2009.  Herts Urgent Care will open a new health centre in the Jubilee Wing of  Hemel Hempstead General Hospital on 1^st June, from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week including bank holidays, for both registered and non-registered patients.  Herts Urgent Care also provides the Out of Hours service in Hertfordshire and, in partnership with West Herts Hospitals Trust, the Urgent Care Centre Service.

 Hertfordshire Community Health Services

From 1^st April 2009 the provider arm of the PCTs will formally become an arms length organisation know as Hertfordshire Community Health Services.

 Asylum Seekers

An April 2008 High Court ruling means that failed asylum seekers’ treatment is not now funded by PCTs. Trusts have discretion to withhold treatment pending payment or to provide treatment with no prospect of being paid for it. However, immediately necessary treatment, including maternity treatment, must never be withheld for any reason but it should be limited to what is necessary to enable the patient to return to their own country.  From April 1^st, trusts must not charge patients who are identified as actual or suspected victims of human trafficking.  

Joan