Agenda - Patient Reference Group Meeting

Minutes - Patient Reference Group Meeting

Thursday 13 th October 2016 – 1pm

Apologies: Attended by: Kathleen Larkin Kerri Hunter (Practice Manager) Pauline Benn Cross Kirsty Morley (Patient Liaison Co-ordinator) Stephen Cross Pat Nelson Joan Robinson Sue Hunter Juliet Gane Alan Hunter Alan Gane Louise Marley

(1) Dr Baters retirement

Dr Bater is due to retire at the end of November 2016 following over 30 years at the surgery.

Dr Wala Subahi and Dr Rebecca Qualtrough join the team at Distington to replace Dr Bater, with Dr Wala working 4 sessions per week (all day Wednesday and Friday) and Dr Qualtrough working 5 sessions per week (all day Monday, Thursday am and all day Friday) Dr Bater was with us for 8 sessions per week so we have gained an extra doctor session weekly in the new arrangement.

Dr Wala has been with the practice since 2014 as a GP registrar and in part due to high patient request now joins us as a fully-fledged member of the team, whilst also working on the obsetrics and gynaecology at NCUH. Dr Qualtrough is new to the practice and has a particular interest in elderly care which we think will be hugely beneficial to the practice. We welcome both to the team and wish Dr Bater a wonderful retirement. (2) New GP Reg’s Dr Caroline Bateman and Dr Dariusz Szymd

Both joined us at Distington at the beginning of August for a one year rotation with the surgery. Dr Bateman is on her final rotation as a GP reg and Dr Szymd joins us following working as a surgeon. Both are available for appointments fully supported by a mentoring partner GP. Dr Bateman is with us all day on a Monday and Tuesday/Thursday mornings. Dr Szymd is with all day Monday, Tuesday, Friday and a Thursday morning. (3) New Business Admin apprentice – Dispensary Kate Singleton from Gen II joins the team in dispensary this month as a business admin apprentice. The dispensary have had huge success with previous apprentices with Hannah Woodend and Emily Fitzsimmons both completing their apprenticeships and going on to become full time members of the dispensing team. (4) Marni Latham – Business Admin apprentice in Reception/Admin Marni has been with us since November 2015 on a one year apprenticeship which has now been extended until February 2017. Marni is becoming a much valued member of the team and we are pleased her time with us has been extended. (5) CQC visit 21/10/16 CQC will visit the practice on the above date to assess the practice and award a rating. Several members of the group volunteered to attend and meet with the inspectors and this is very much appreciated by the practice. (6) AOB Online appointments – A member showed us what the online appointments system looks like from their point of view (something we don’t have access to) and how it can be confusing on the different types of dr appointments. Blocked appointments were showing up as an option in error and we think we have rectified this but will make arrangements to check again accordingly. Another member expressed that they were unable to make a doctors appointment online due to having several nurse appointments already booked in. The website will not let a patient book another appointment if three are already booked due to patients abusing this facility. It was agreed to look into this to see if there is anyway of lifting this embargo for patients who find themselves in this situation and to report back at the next meeting.

Feedback re: dispensary – A member let us know that whilst attending the dispensary they had waited several minutes for attention from staff who had been in conversation together. This will be fed back to the dispensary and discussed at the next patient group meeting.

Appointments with Dr Booth – A member told us how difficult they find it to make an appointment with Dr Booth. This is a common problem for patients as Dr Booth has a large patient following and several other factors are contributing towards this presently:

 Dr Booth had three weeks off in August so this inevitably ties his appointments up for some time after.  We have two GP Reg’s who require the partner looking after their surgery to have a number of blocks within their own surgeries in order to support them. So this takes a number of Dr Booths appointments at the moment.  Due to sickness absence within the dispensary one partner doctor each morning and afternoon will have a number of blocked appointments to carry out essential work in the surgery. This will have had an effect on Dr Booth’s available appointments but it is hoped that this situation is now partly resolved and will be fully resolved in the near future.

As of the 2nd October Dr Booth will be working 6 sessions per week (all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) and it is hoped this will provide more available appointments.

Date of next meeting: Thursday 8th December 2016 1pm at the surgery.