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NORTHGATE MEDICAL PRACTICE AND SURGERY

What is the Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

Basically the Patient Participation Group is a panel of patients registered with the Northgate Medical Practice, who meet on a regular basis to carry out a number of essential functions. Originally PPGs were optional, but it is nowPATIENT a statutory obligation PARTICIPATION for every practice GROUP to have one. NMP has had one for a number of years, and it is constantly looking for ways to enhance its role.

Essentially the PPG is a means of communication between patients and the practice. It suggests and looks at ideas for improvingNEWSLETTER and extending services (see the item about Vanguard Status). It helps with the smooth running of the practice by assisting with flu clinics for example or discussing parking problems or promoting the use of the digital check–in system. It provides a patient’s perspective when change is under SPRING discussion bothEDITION within the pra FEBRUARYctice and in the NHS 2018 as a whole. It helps prepare and analyse patient surveys to test whether patients are satisfied with the service they receive. It keeps patients informed1 Northgate about staffingCanterbury and facilities CT1through 1WL this Newsletter. Ideally it should have representative mix of ages, gender, ethnicity, disability and circumstances, but on the TEL: 01227 208556 FAX: 0870 890 2435 whole we have found it difficult to interest younger people and those with work and family responsibilities. There areWEB: about www.northgatemedicalpractice.com four regular meetings a year held at NMP usually at about 4 p.m. on a Thursday, but this could change to suit the members. E-MAIL: [email protected]

NORTHGATE SURGERY CHARTHAM SURGERY BLEAN SURGERY

Monday: 8:00am - 6:30pm Monday: 8.00 am – 6.30pm Monday 8:00am - 12:30pm Tuesday: 8:00am - 8:00pm Tuesday: 8.00 am – 6.30pm Tuesday 8:00am – 4:00pm Wednesday: 8:00 - 8:00pmWho is yourWednesday: Accountable 8.00 am GP? – 8.00pm Wednesday 8:00am - 12:30pm Thursday: 8:00am - 8:00pm Thursday: 8.00 am – 6.30pm Thursday 8:00am - 12:30pm Friday:I expect 8:00am that many – 8.00pm of you like me are awareFriday: that we 8.00 have am– been 6.30pm assigned to a particularFriday 8:00am doctor in - the12:30pm practice, and try to get our appointments with that doctor. Of course sometimes ‘your’ doctor may have no more appointments on the day, or be on leave, and you see another doctor instead, but that does not mean you have changed ‘your’ doctor. A new regulation means that he/she has a new title – Thereyour ‘accountable is also a drop-in GP’ and clinic the atpractice the Northgate is obliged Med to ensureical Practice all patients between are aware 8.30 and who 10.00 it is. am. NMP will organise this on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. Need to cancel? Please note that this is for patients with a single issue only – for example symptoms of coughs, colds, temperature, chest infections, sinus problems, emergency contraception etc. It is NOT SUITABLE for chronic, ongoing conditions, repeat prescriptions or long-term conditions under regular management from your usual GP

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PPG Newsletter February 2018

Welcome to the PPG Newsletter include new housing and student accommodation and therefore a likely The Patients Participation Group consists of increase in demand for GP services. patients at the Northgate Medical Practice Northgate is looking at ways in which it can who regularly give up some of their time to extend its premises in order to meet this discuss matters of concern to patients both at demand. the Practice and more widely in the NHS. In Improved Access view of the problems and the changes which face it the opportunity for the patient to The surgery opening hours are changing. It is contribute to the discussions is vital. A list of already opening earlier (from 7 a.m.) and will the current members of the PPG is given at soon open on Saturday morning and stay the end of this issue. We have recently open late on Friday until 8 p.m. Appointments recruited several new members - and a during these extended hours are staffed from warm welcome to all of them. We are sad to a consortium of practices across . report that two of our members have died recently – Peter Munson and Mary Mills. Cervical Screening Programme Their work has been much appreciated and we extend condolences to their families. It’s been five years since Jade Goody died from cervical cancer at just 27. And while The role of the PPG is to promote good at the time her death prompted thousands of communication between the practice and the women to get screened for the disease, patients. It meets four times a year. If there that trend unfortunately now appears to be are any matters you would like the PPG to on the decline. Research conducted recently raise with the Practice you can contact the has revealed that the number of women Chair Stephen Thomas on 01227 451974. across all age groups attending screenings has dropped by 3.3% - out of 4.3 million women Practice News invited to attend for a smear test only 3.1 mil- Personnel lion turned up – yet the number of those diagnosed with the disease has reached Dr Biggs will be retiring in March after more its highest level in 15 years. than thirty years at the practice. He was instrumental in enabling the practice to move The trust set up in memory of Jade found that from the premises in Watling Street to 39% of women are embarrassed by Northgate in 2000 and has been one of the the concept of having a smear test, and one in main drivers in developing the services that it 10 were uncomfortable having the test done is able to deliver to patients today. He has at their GP’s surgery. One in five forgot all given the PPG much encouragement being about it altogether, and one in 10 thought friendly and open to our involvement in the cervical screening was a test for ovarian can- work of the practice. I am sure you will join us cer. This is very worrying. Just going for one in wishing him a long and happy retirement . screening can save an estimated 5,000 lives a Dr Olsen will be emigrating to Denmark later year by catching potential disease as early as this year. The process of appointing their possible. successors is already under way. A number of new staff members have been recruited Of course it isn’t the most pleasant of experi- (including two extra staff), and a Paramedic ences but five minutes of discomfort is worth Practitioner appointed. it ten times over if it can save your life. Possible Expansion

Demolition work has begun across the road from the Practice to make way for the Canterbury Riverside Development. Plans

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Flu jabs team, who then draw up health goals and a care plan. The plan is implemented and is regularly reviewed with the patients and their If you are in one of the vulnerable groups families. The implementation of the plan may there is still time to get a flu jab. involve getting access to support services, integrating the health and social care in the The Changing Face of the NHS in home, and access to specialist opinion. East Kent It is early days yet for the scheme: about 150 New Model of Care patients across the five local hubs are involved and this is expected to rise to around Every week the local press is filled with 70 in each of them by March 2018. reports about the changes being proposed for the NHS in East Kent. These changes range Confused by the new terms (especially the from hospitals (how many and what services initials)? they offer), to GP surgeries and what services they can offer, to Social Services and Encompass is t he title given to the group of how they can be effectively delivered. The 14 medical practices in this part of East Kent. name given to the group of practices overseeing the changes in our area is MCP (Multi-Speciality Community Provider) : “Encompass”. One area which has already this describes what Encompass is set up to be. seen significant changes is the care of those patients who have complex care needs and CHOC (Community Hob Operating Centre): who are at high risk of future emergency the 14 medical practices are split into 5 admission to hospital. These are the patients CHOCs each delivering integrated care. Ours is for whom the North Canterbury Community the Canterbury North CHOC . Hub Operating Centre has been set up. The CHOC covers Northgate Medical Practice with MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team): this describes its Blean and Chartham surgeries, the representatives (see the list above) who Surgery, Canterbury Health Centre and the deliver the scheme which is defined as Old School Surgery, a total of some 48.000 ICM (Integrated Care Management ). patients. All the health and social care providers are represented and meet regularly to receive referrals. The team working for the CHOC consists of:

• Health and Social Care Co-ordinator • Pharmacist

• GP

• Community Nurse/LTC Nurse • Geriatrician Do You Know About Red Zebra? • Allied Health Professional • Social worker /Social Care This is an amazing organisation - a local infra- representative structure charity, working closely with organi- • Mental Health Worker sations and individuals to build stronger local • Social Prescribing communities. They provide a range of ser- • Nurse Specialist vices that enable people to be involved and • Administrator active in their communities and to remain independent in their own homes. This in- Potential patients to receive this type of care cludes: are identified by the GP and referred to the

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Northgate Medical Practice PPG Newsletter February 2018

• information, advice and support to The PPG voluntary and community organisa- tions and social enterprises (VCSEs) Present members of the Patients Participation both established and emerging, in Group are: the Canterbury district and across East Kent. Stephen Thomas (Chair) Lynne Finch • a range of services that enable people Eric Morton to be involved and active in their Alan Hollands communities, whether it’s through Roger Samson volunteering, joining resident-led Christine Samson groups or accessing a huge range of Jackie Hamlet community groups and activities. Marina Everingham Their social transport service can also Valerie Elvidge help residents to access Jonathan Wiles medical and other appointments, Mike Hall which enables them to continue to David Scott live independently in their own home Mary Adams • information, advice and support to Sheila Watson (new member) voluntary and community organisa- Alison Clarke (new member) tions and social enterprises (VCSEs), Penny McCoy (new member both established and emerging, Rory Keyhoe (new member) across East Kent. Minor Injuries Units • a range of one-to-one and small group support services free of If you are injured and it is not serious, you can charge to voluntary, community get help from one of the seven Minor Injuries and social enterprise organisations Units in east Kent. They can see a range of across the Canterbury district. Our minor illnesses, and injuries such as burns, team can offer information and sprains, cuts and foreign bodies in the eye, support around a wide range of ca- nose and ear. The closest ones to us are pacity building and business devel- opment topic. We work with a Kent and Canterbury Hospital Ethelbert Road number of independent specialists 24h and will support you to access the expertise necessary to meet your Estuary View Medical Centre Boorman Way needs. Whitstable 8am to 8pm

The contact details for more information Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital Edward are: Avenue 8am to 8pm www.redzebra.org.uk Red Zebra Head Office 124 Middle Wall Whitstable CT5 1BW Tel: 01227 262313 Email: [email protected]

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