The Head of Practice at our local health centre has regular meetings with the area NHS management teams. Ever heard of "feedback"?
Both the head of our local Primary Care Network and Lead Partner at my surgery (two different people) will say that their priority when talking to those in regional management is how they are supposed to jump through a new set of hoops and prove it so they can secure the extra funding that comes with the hoops so that can employ the extras (like physios, specialist nurses or paramedics) who can deal with patients directly and so take the pressure off of GPs. Subsequently might be the closure of pharmacies (so much for Pharmacy First), GPs retiring leading to surgeries closing (so practices having to take on more patients), endless house building (ditto), essential medicines being in short supply. They might raise your point but there are ways of doing so directly.
In my previous post, I made the assumption that you were in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board ICB) area, I will continue to do so by way of explanation. They have a Citizen's Panel:
As a member, you will receive regular updates of health and care information in Lancashire and South Cumbria, be invited to take part in surveys, focus groups and events and have the chance to help shape NHS services.
At this level, not all practices are represented, so your lead Partner way well not be. Mine isn't on the Kent and Medway ICB. It might be worth applying. These replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). I sometimes attended my local one, occasionally asking questions; one, I remember, was answered fairly briefly but a GP who was on the CCG sought be out after the meeting and amplified the response, explaining, from a medical point of view why I was asked certain questions. This ICB has held six 'Listening Events' across the area, for which there is documentary feedback. I chose one at random - first item on 'How can we improve NHS Services in Central Lancashire' is 'Health Service Communication'. It is an issue - there is a chance to explain why it is an issue to you. There are 42 ICBs in the country, a lot less that the number of surgeries/ Health Centres. If you are prepared to spend a little time, you can ensure your voice is heard. I am invited to about 8 meetings a year - about 2 hours each. I have done some other work but that was an offer and only because it interested me, and I have some expertise.
If NHS advertising is an issue to you, there are opportunities to raise it. I urge you to use them.
A list of all ICBs can be found at
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/, surgeries should all have a Patient Participation Group.
The quote is from
https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/get-involved/citizen-panel