Conservative MPs Mims Davies (Mid Sussex) and Jeremy Quinn (Horsham) have met with residents and health chiefs over growing concerns with Modality GP surgeries in East Grinstead and Crawley Down.
Members of the Integrated Care were updated at the Crawley Down meeting which was attended by Amy Galea (Chief Primary Care Officer, NHS Sussex) and Dr Andrew Hodson (Primary Care Clinical Lead, NHS Sussex) and quizzed over the failings which are causing anxiety among patients who struggle to obtain face-to-face consultations.
The MPs initiated the meeting as part of their ongoing effort and engagement to make sure constituents get the service and support they need.
As Mims explains her March 2023 outrage at the situation with Modality brought patients’ feedback to a head.
"Residents had been writing to me and my casework team to share their worries and concerns over the last year. The availability of face-to-face appointments, getting through to the surgery on the phone and follow up care were not being addressed adequately. We have continued to work on this on behalf of Burgess Hill and East Grinstead constituents.
"In May 2023 Jeremy and I met with Vincent Sai, CEO of Modality and his team. We have attended the Patient Participation Group, joined public meetings, town-led meetings and splinter groups of patients and activists on this issue to get a full and accurate picture of the issues faced.
"Every concern I have received has been logged and I have been briefing the Integrated Care Board and encouraging residents to make your own approaches and share your experiences. To bring you up to date, all are now on side, to improve access and care for patients of the practices which come under the Modality umbrella.
"So much so that the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) have visited each of the practices several times and have now delivered their report, putting the surgeries into special measures. There is now a strict timeline of essential care that must be achieved and a set timeline of 6months to revaluate the findings. Steps will be taken if these are not met.
"We all know behind each of these statistics are people and their health worries.
"My aim is to raise the care needs to the standard all patients deserve. That’s why it was so important to me to bring everyone around the table for some constructive straight talking and positive action to move forward. I also want to speak for those who are frightened and those with no voice, those who are carers and busy families with young children.
"We will find a solution to make this work for our residents and just look how far we have come in the process. I will continue with my casework team stand up for constituents on this and keep you updated."
