Harleston Medical Practice Patient Particpation Group

HARLESTON MEDICAL PRACTICE PATIENT PARTICPATION GROUP

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday March 4th 2015 at 10.00am at the Bullock Fair surgery

PRESENT: Peggy Phinn ( in the chair), Lesley Allen, Jenny Barker, Rupert Bragg, Geoff Doggett, Norman Hart, Hazel Newman, Sue Olver (Secretary), Janet Russell, Jane Wood, In attendance Maria Flood (Practice Manager), Frances Taylor

APOLOGIES. There were none. Jo Westgate and Annette Wright did not attend. Maria advised one person was hoping to join the group however at present there were no vacancies. A waiting list has been formed and whilst this is in place it will be necessary to adhere to the terms of reference with regards to eligibility for membership in terms of attendance at meetings.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on 14 January were agreed. The highlighted item was to be kept strictly confidential.

MATTERS ARISING. None that were not covered elsewhere in the agenda.

SURVEY RESULTS ACTION PLAN. Rupert was asked to report. Results of all 3 surveys had been circulated and were available in hard copy.

GP appointment system – Only 31 surveys had been returned – they had not been given out individually to ensure impartiality. The results and merits/disadvantages of both systems were discussed in depth. It was agreed by the PPG to keep to the existing system of appointments. However having reviewed the comments and suggestions on the survey responses it was agreed that the surgery should trial keeping some next day appointments back for people phoning in the afternoon.

Patients survey – 84 included in the circulated results though another 10 surveys had since been received. Maria expressed her disappointment that the results were not more positive. An action plan was proposed by the analysis working party to address the key issues.

Phone congestion in the mornings was still a problem. The surgery will arrange a meeting with the telecommunications provider to discuss options in terms of additional lines and a queueing system. Reception will also promote online booking more proactively to raise awareness and hopefully this will help reduce pressure on the telephone system.

GP’s are considering attendance a consultation skills refresher course in London.

Longer appointments for patients with long term conditions or additional needs now appear on each routine GP list. These are being introduced to allow more in depth conversation and sharing of information where this is required to ensure patients feel supportive and have a good understanding of their condition. It was agreed that the PPG would look at the survey form before running the survey again next year to see if alterations were necessary for future use.

Dispensary survey –The responses were pleasing. Action plan agreed to focus on turnaround time. The surgery will increase awareness of the managed repeat service and will remind patients of the 48 hour turnaround time. Maria reported that the surgery will be exploring options for a delivery service over the next year.

The proposed action plans were agreed by the PPG.

PPG SCHEME – Maria advised that it is now a core contract requirement for practices to have PPG and that this was in recognition of how valuable the relationship can be. Maria continues to send information out to the virtual PPG but does not tend to receive any return communication.

OPEN EVENT – A reminder of the health promotion event to be held on March 23rd. Details of the subjects were given. Members were asked to publicise the event wherever possible.

NEWSLETTER – It was agreed the next newsletter would be produced for the end April. An A5 single sheet summary would be prepared to go as an insert in Grapevine and other magazines. Maria would produce the content for the first issue which Geoff kindly agreed to format using publisher.

Suggested inclusions were Who’s Who at the surgery, information on pilot schemes (see below), a practice profile, and a PPG slot (Rupert kindly agreed he would write). It was hoped this would raise patient’s perception of the practice and help to keep them informed of matters of interest. After publication PPG would look at the newsletter before deciding the format, timing etc for further issues.

Staff – a new practice nurse had been appointed who would start on April 7th. It is hoped that this may allow the practice to release one of the other nurses to work in the community occasionally, focussing on chronic disease management for patients who find it difficult to attend the surgery. .

Pilot scheme- The surgery had bid and received funding to help try and reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and A&E attendances in the over 75s.

There are several elements to the scheme including:

 The provision of an AGE UK Norfolk advisor in the practice 1 session per week. Patients, GPs, practice staff and Community Nurses can all refer.

 Norfolk 1st Support GP liaison support for 10 hours a week to visit at risk patients in their own homes, offering risk assessment, support and advice, and onward referral to other services including the 3rd sector.  2 beds have also been funded for suitable patients at All Hallows hospital, Ditchingham.

CORRESPONDENCE - NAPP news had been forwarded by Maria to all members.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Wednesday May 13th. Apologies received in advance from Hazel Newman and Jane Wood.

A.O.B. - Patients abusive to receptionists. Two members had noted this. This to be a future agenda item.

Boots dispensary – The surgery has a good working relationship with Boots Pharmacy and the dispensary team are in regular contact each day to ensure that patient’s needs are met.

Local groups HIP carers group for dementia patients and their carers. Maria suggested AGE UK talk to them. Stroke survivors group –this was mentioned in Grapevine but was not known to the surgery.

The meeting concluded at 11.45am.