Ambrose Avenue PPG

Minutes of April 10, 2017, meeting

Present Roly Buss (chair), Ray Hardisty (secretary), Terry Smith, Marilyn Rivett, Marita Ling, Pam Robertson, George Waterman, Mary Russell, Andrea Anderson, Gwen Standen, Margaret Grundy, Mavis Knight and Sharon Kendall.

2 Apologies: Tony Friedlander, Linda Meredith.

3 Minutes of the March 13 AGM. These were agreed by the group so they could be uploaded to the website.

4 Minutes of the group meeting on March 13. The report agreed as a true record.

5 Provide: Members welcomed Gaby Springett of Provide who outlined the free support available to self-referring patients under the latest funded NHS and Essex County Council public health services covering:

Stopping smoking, healthy eating, increased physical activity, long term condition monitoring and increasing patient confidence, self-esteem and resilience.

6 Matters Arising: Members discussed a number of personal issues around the present wording of the DNA statements that appear in the surgeries which, it was felt, did not help understanding of the message. They suggested the statements should be rethought to give a clearer understanding that missing appointments without cancelling them meant other patients missed out ojn the opportunity of being seen.

Marilyn suggested that a separate phone line could be introduced to aid cancellations.

Pam gave feedback on the first responses to the Young Parents Survey she had analysed and received another batch of feedback forms to complete the task.

7 Practice Report: Sharon said:

a) That admin had been strengthened by appointment of a new assistant practice manager who she would invite to the next meet meeting to meet the PPG.

b) There were new faces in the reception team.

c) That a new Health Care Assistant was due to join on April 26.

8 PPG Membership: Ray reported:

Active 16; Reserve 6, Supporters 227. Total 249.

9 Draft Supporter Newsletter: Ray tabled the suggested May newsletter covering cancelling appointments and members keeping in touch with the PPG. Members agreed it should be distributed.

10 Contents of PPG suggestion boxes

Tollgate …. Comment on the unsuitability the practice radio system being tuned to Radio 4.

Members agreed that conversation on Radio 4 was not really suitable but considered this rarely happened as the system was usually broadcasting a music station. Without a date or any other clue to timing, it would be difficult to discover why Radio 4 was tuned in on the day in question.

Ambrose … A patient complaining over delay to a fixed surgery appointment because of an emergency that led to an ambulance being called. They felt more staff would have eased the situation.

Members felt that patients should generally accept that emergencies happen and could affect them.

11 North East Essex Health Forum.

a) Agenda for the April Local Health Matters public meeting

b) Agenda for the borough-wide PPG liaison meeting on April 24. .

12 Newsbreaks

a) Essex mental health trusts’ merger agreed.

b) Announcement of maternity event in Castle Park

c) New general hospital support group for bereaved parents

d) First consultant breast cancer radiographer at general hospital

e) National awards for staff at Healthwatch Essex and Colchester Hospital

13 Any other Business

a) A query was raised on whether the practice should consider a capacity limit in the light of pressures of continuing new development in its catchment area.

b) A member praised the practice based pharmacy for carrying out a medication check with them and going over whether the items were being taken as recommended.

14 Outcomes

a) The suggestion that the wording of the DNA notices and online statement should be investigated and amended so patients received a clearer understanding on the impact of missed appointments.

b) The outline of the revised service from Provide.

c) Early indication that the responses to the Young Parents Survey give the PPG very useful information.

15 Next meeting

Monday May 8 at 6pm at Tollgate surgery.

(Linda has apologised)