To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes:
Dr Frank O’Kelly referred to Application No. 25/01234/LBC
Question 1: - Are you aware of the direction of travel for NHS Healthcare Delivery?
I am Frank O’Kelly a local GP. I have been a doctor for 38 years and working as a GP at Clare House Surgery in Tiverton for the last 26 years. In that time,
I have also been a GP Anaesthetist for 11 years, worked in Tiverton Urgent Care Centre and run the wards in Tiverton Hospital for 20 years. I care passionately about the local delivery of care to the people of Tiverton and about the future of that delivery.
4 years ago, I reduced from being a full time GP to working 3 days in the practice and the rest of the time in medical leadership. Since 2022 I have been the Primary Care Partner Member on the Board of NHS Devon and this year have also become a member of the SW Peninsula Board in a similar role. As such I am involved in planning the future delivery all Healthcare care in Devon and Cornwall and especially Primary Care Medical, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dental services.
I am speaking to you today to ensure you are aware of the direction of travel of health care delivery. The NHS 10-year plan published in July 2025.This sets out the direction of travel for the NHS with three major shifts.
1. Analogue to Digital
2. Treatment to Prevention
3. Hospital to Community.
Great clarity as to what this means has be given in the NHS planning framework published in September. It is clear the NHS delivery model of the future is the Neighbourhood.
In my SW Peninsula Board role, I am helping to lead a bid to the November SW Board for a very significant investment in Neighbourhood working. This bid is in the region of a 5% increase on present funding. If successful, it has significant implications for how we delivery Neighbourhood health, in terms of personnel and estates.
When I joined the practice, we had 10,500 patients, 7 doctors with about 30 staff. We now have about 18,700 patient, 25 doctors and about 100 staff working at the Clare House and Bampton sites.
In 2004, when the new hospital was built, we endeavoured to move to that site.
In 2008 we were told we would not be given planning permission because of the change in flood risk, so we looked to develop on the Clare House site. This was declined because of the Grade 2 listing.
In 2009 we looked to move out of the centre of town. When the Planning Committee realised our foot fall would move with us, we were given permission to build the modern extension. In 2013 the extension was completed, and we thought it enormous, at the time.
In 2025 our site is now inadequate for the patient population needs and the delivery of General Practice and PCN (Primary Care Network) work.
The Partnership now finds itself at a similar juncture as we did in 2009. With the move to Neighbourhood working, we are going to have to plan significant changes in healthcare delivery which means we may well need to come back to the Planning Committee over the next 2-10 years with further requests to meet the needs of the growing and increasingly elderly population.
I am in the twilight of my career, as a local GP, so my question is not about me or personal gain it is about future Healthcare in Tiverton.
Question 2:- The Practice needs to know now whether, you as a Committee, understand the direction of travel for the NHS, are in favour of Neighbourhood working and if so, want the Practice to pursue this within the town centre or once again start looking for an alternative site.