Seisdon District Patient Group

25th March 2015 from 11.30am - 01.30pm Committee Room 2,

Present: Name of attendee Job title Initials Lynn Hingley Patient Representative Chair LH Iris Fieldhouse Patient Representative, Billbrook Surgery IF Janet Aldridge Gravelhill Surgery JA Jenny Robinsons Patient Representative , Moss Grove Surgery Patient JR Panel Julie McCarthy Featherstone Family Health Centre JM Pat Roberts Patient Representative, Russell House PR June Towlson Featherstone Family Health Centre JT Sandra Wilks Patient Representative, Russell House SW

In Attendance: Caroline Parmenter Communication and Engagement Assistant CP Fleur Fernando Engagement and Partnership Manager FF Rosemary Crawly Lay Member, Patient and Public Involvement, SES & SP CCG RC Caroline Bradford Staffs Cancer Advocacy and Support Volunteer Coordinator CB (agenda item 4 only) Sherry Samaan Administrator SS

ACTION 1. Apologies/Declarations of interest Apologies: Penny Allen and Val Brook It was noted that Val Brook will not be able to continue in pursuing her role as SP Patient District member and wishes the group all the best.

The Committee were asked to declare any conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of items on the agenda. Declaration of interest by PR as Lay Member for PPI with CCG.

The meeting was agreed as Quorate.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on the 28th January 2015

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28th January were agreed as a true and accurate record.

3. Action Sheet Action sheet updated as attached. 1

4. & Wolverhampton Cancer Advocacy & Support Project

Caroline Bradford, Staffs Cancer Advocacy and Support Volunteer Coordinator gave a brief presentation on the project. The project began in 2011 as a collaboration between Older People’s Advocacy Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support and is now being offered by the Beth Johnson Foundation across the whole of Staffordshire/Stoke on Trent and Wolverhampton. There are around 1.3 million older people (65+) living with cancer in the UK indicating a possible great demand for this service; the current project is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.

CB explained that Beth Johnstone foundation is a charitable organization, looked after by board of trustees. Back in 2013, there was an advocacy support pilot project funded by the lottery for three years to help people over the age of 50 who are affected by cancer. The project was granted further funding last February.

CB clarified that they are not clinical and their aim is to lift the worry and stress for patients to help them focus on their treatment. Advocates support and enable people to exercise their rights, express their views, explore and make informed choices. They aim to be the “voice” of the older person, are non- judgemental and make sure those they support are heard and their views and opinions are acted upon. The issues addressed by the advocates have been wide ranging from supporting patients with oncology appointments to helping someone discharged from hospital to find sheltered accommodation.

The Foundation employs five Volunteer Co-ordinators who are each responsible for promoting the project in their own area in order to acquire referrals and to attract people to become volunteer advocates.

The Co-ordinators aim to recruit and train older people who themselves have been affected by cancer, to provide support to their peers. Initial induction and training is provided and the volunteer advocates are offered regular supervision and group peer support with an ongoing training programme.

CB noted that her area of work is and Staffordshire and there are around 8 similar projects throughout the country. She is currently based at the Cannock Fire station. They currently have 3 volunteers and are aiming to have 25 volunteers across Cannock and Staffordshire through the next 2 years. Volunteers work is mainly in the community and they can do as little as 2 hours a week. CB encouraged members if interested in training to be an advocate or refer someone to the project to contact her directly at [email protected] or on 07467 915905.

CB was advised to contact Kevin Arnold from Village News at , who can support publish an article for no cost to help promote the pilot.

CB pointed that she is struggling to receive responses from most of the practice 2

managers, FF suggested that CP can help by sending information about the pilot to practices. FF proposed to invite the project coordinators for and Tamworth to the next SES Patient District Group, CB to coordinate with FF.

CB to contact FF for dates and information re Practice managers meeting and Cannock details

5. Feedback from PPGs including patient stories

Russell House: Big changes at Russell House, Dr. Wakeman is retiring and Dr. Williams is going to be the new lead. The asthma nurse is retiring and a new female GP is appointed. They will also be recruiting another part time practice manager.

PR noted whilst she was at the practice for her husband’s appointment she looked for the Friends and Family Test, to her surprise the papers were put by a bay window out of the sight of patients and despite that it says clearly on the sheet ‘’Your answers to this questionnaire will be completely anonymous’’ patients were instructed to hand sheet in to reception. PR filled out the test and gave it to reception with her comments noting that test sheets need to be more visible to patients and there should be a box for filled in sheets to ensure that answers to questionnaires are completely anonymous as stated on the actual sheets.

Gravelhill Surgery: JA updated that they got a new senior receptionist. JA noted that she continues to encourage members to bring their patient stories.

A new PPG member joined the group and discussed a survey report he produced. He presented himself outside the surgery at 8:00 for a week to carry out a survey on how long patients have been waiting to get an appointment and when did they get it. He reported that first appointment given was at 8:50 am, some patients were asked to come back at 10:00 am which is not always convenient to patients. One of his arguments was, having 8:30 appointments when GPs do not arrive before 9:00 which is not always acceptable if people have work commitments. JA noted that it is appreciated if the GP got called once on his way to surgery but it seems to be the common case.

SW noted that once she rang Russell House for an appointment and a medication review and the appointment she got was in four weeks time. She was informed that if she needs an urgent appointment she has to queue at 8:00 am outside the surgery. SW pointed out that if a patient is sick enough to ask for an urgent appointment they would not be able to queue early morning to get themselves an appointment of which most members agreed. It was noted that this system is not applied at Featherstone. It was suggested to raise this issue and try to address it with Care Quality Commission ‘CQC’ surgery inspection which should be announced prior taking place at the surgery. SW replied that this would not be valid for patients who go to their surgeries occasionally.

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Kinver: JR updated that two of the doctors have retired, looking at appointing their replacement. Computer systems have been updated to allow patients book appointments and have their repeat prescriptions.

Lynn updated on her friends’s experience from Kinver saying that the removed wart healed with no problems, it was just painful at the time of surgery as previously noted due to decrease number of injections from three to one only.

Billbrook Medical Centre: The PPG meeting took place, a question was raised with regard to how many NHS services will be contracted next year. The practice has had good feedback from the friends and family test. They have completed the renewing of the reception area, this will be ready for use after Easter.

With reference to her own experience with the Eye Infirmary, IF confirmed that she received an excellent service throughout her appointment and care.

Featherstone: PPG group normally takes place on a Friday, a new GP will be joining in the surgery. JT noted how fortunate they are with the level of service at Featherstone.

6. Feedback from Patient Council Meeting

JA updated that Jessica Graysmark from the West Midland Clinical Research network gave a presentation on ‘Patient Research’. It was highlighted patients’ vital role in encouraging practices and asking their GPs to take part in any on- going studies/patient research. JG pointed that it is aimed to disseminate the results of these studies and get feedback to patients level.

Also, Tina Groom – implementation manager for Staffordshire and gave an update and detailed presentation on ‘Patient Health Budget’. TG highlighted that Continuing Health Care (CHC) funding is to be used to provide more personalised care for individual patients.

Royal Wolverhampton consultation and its implications on patients, JA noted the service isn’t widely publicized and should run more often to accommodate outpatients appointments and serve people’s needs.

7. Any other business Agenda items - FF asked members on their suggested topics for discussion in ALL future meetings. Suggestions included: . Alzheimer Society and singing - presented by JT on the next meeting. . Diabetic retinopathy screening

FF suggested that members think about topics and feedback in the next meeting.

Grants Scoring Update - FF will share the results in the next meeting.

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PPG Kit for Practices – FF briefed members that AC is looking at an action plan on how to support practices by developing a PPG kit for them. Members to look into what it should entail and feedback.

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting Next meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd June from 11.00am – 1.00pm at meeting R3, Codsall.

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