City leaders make first moves towards 'virtual' MCP

Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group is working with Solent Trust and local GPs, including the Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance, to develop a “virtual” multispecialty community provider.

It comes amid a drive by health leaders in the region to create an accountable care system for Portsmouth and south east Hampshire. The area also sits next to the Better Local Care MCP vanguard, which aims to cover around 950,000 of the county’s population.

The virtual MCP – one of three options available under the MCP model outlined by NHS England – would “overlay existing commissioned contracts through an alliance agreement”, CCG governing body papers said.

The alliance agreement was described as a memorandum of understanding by Solent Trust in its most recent board papers.

The agreement would establish a “shared vision and commitment to managing resources together, as well as clear governance arrangements in the delivery of services”, the CCG papers added.

HSJ understands the agreement has not yet been formally signed by all parties but a working group is developing a “case for change” document.

Part of the initial aim of the MCP is to improve in-hours capacity for urgent demand in GP practices and NHS community services.

A priority for the Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance will be to “engage with practices and demonstrate a clear mandate from all practices to act on their behalf”, the CCG papers said.

A key part of the work will be ensuring the MCP’s delivery plans “connect” with the emerging ACS.

Project leaders have already identified services where changes will be prioritised. These include:

• musculoskeletal triage;
• local delivery of GP extended hours; and
• joint primary and community nursing clinics.

Health leaders have also met with Portsmouth city council to discuss the option of including social care and public health in the plans.

HSJ asked what effect the MCP would have on member organisations’ governance, accountability and contracting, but a CCG spokesman said this was still being worked on.