County Practice, Syston Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meeting Minutes of Meeting 13th December 2016
Present: Dawn Adcock, (Practice Manager), Alan Heath (Deputy Chair), Jane Friendship, Nancye Sutliff, Pat Clarke, George Dodge, Pierre Castille, PV (Secretary), Rosemary Monk, Nina Hodgkinson, Dr Chidlow
Apologies: Kathleen Summerfield. Gloria Bliss. Nina was welcomed as a new member to the Group.
1. Minutes of 4th October 2016 These minutes were accepted and signed.
2. LLR Alliance Dr Chidlow, although having an evening surgery, attended the meeting at the beginning to explain about the LLR Alliance. This was a very informative and interesting information session and each member of the Group received a booklet about the scheme.
3. Matters Arising Repeat Prescriptions - The date for the removal of the current system of repeat prescription ordering had been put back yet again and was now to start on the 1st January 2017. However, there were still teething problems with the new system and users and providers have doubts about how well it will work. It will bring more work back into the surgeries and be difficult for housebound or very elderly patients to manage, particularly those patients without access to a computer for on-line ordering. DA informed the Group that this Practice had already identified its vulnerable patients in order to ensure they were catered for. This new system was endeavouring to save in the region of £136,000 in medication costs. Boots the Chemists – There were still major problems with the local pharmacy, assurances had been made that the situation would improve with the appointment of a new manager at that branch. The Practice, at the present time, were still getting complaints from patients about lack of adequate medication being available, mislaid prescriptions etc. at this pharmacy. Chairs with arms in the waiting room – more have been ordered. GP Patient Survey – PV had received the link and completed and returned this on behalf of the PPG. CCG – The Group were informed that the CCG were not now going to charge the GP Practices £1 per patient as previously indicated, they were not allowed to do so. Flu Vaccines – The Practice was not yet at target and although they had more sessions to come were still concerned that pharmacies doing these inoculations may mean that the Practice will be left with unused vaccines. Pharmacies are actively coercing patients into using their services. PC was asked to produce a poster for the surgery advertising the need for patients to be vaccinated. 4. CCG PC and AH had attended the last CCG meeting and talked about this meeting and the issues that had been discussed.
In addition one of the attendees at the meeting had verbally attacked the presenter causing much upset. DA had contacted Sue Price who had heard of the outburst and had been grateful for the support offered to the presenter by other attendees. The CCG were going to contact the relevant Practice Manager of the PPG from which the disruptive person had come to complain about this person’s behaviour.
5. Practice Issues A new Pharmacy Technician had been appointed by the Practice through CCG funding. This person was looking at patients who were on several medications to see if any cost savings could be made. This person will work closely with the Pharmacist attached to the Practice. Any proposed changes would not be made without the patients GP’s agreement. Ultra Sound Clinic – The Practice now had an Ultra Sound Clinic and patients could be referred from across the region to attend at this Practice. A new Parkinson’s Clinic nurse is to start work in January. The Group had a discussion on how this could be promoted. The CCG is reducing the prescribing of gluten free foods from the 1st December, some items will be stopped altogether, producing a saving of around £120,000 per annum. Impending CQC Inspection – DA informed the Group that the Practice was due for an inspection, probably before the end of January; the Practice would get two weeks’ notice.
6. Any Other Business RM informed the Group that Blaby District Council had recently formed a Young Mental Health Forum for the treatment of young people with mental health problems and asked if this Practice had anything like it. Currently not, but if Blaby’s idea is a success then it is something the Practice could look at in the future. RM stated that there had been a 65% increase in the numbers of young people self- harming.
7. Date of Next Meeting 14th February 2017 at 6.00pm. PV informed the Group that she would be unable to attend this meeting.
Signed………………………………………………………………………..Date…………………………… Chairperson