Ambrose Avenue PPG

Minutes of October 8, 2017, meeting

Present Roly Buss (chair), Ray Hardisty (secretary), Mary Russell, Terry Smith, Marilyn Rivett, Pam Robertson, Linda Meredith, Gwen Standen, Elaine Hippisley

2 Apologies: Andrea Anderson, Mavis Knight, Marita Ling.

3 Minutes:

August 14 …. Agreed as a true record

September 11 …. Agreed as a true record

4 Matters Arising:

ACE community service update: Ray said he had requested a visit from the ACE team to update members. The response had been positive but he did not have a date yet.

Oaks Hospital: Ray had also invited the oaks to attend a future meeting but did not have a date yet.

5 Practice Report: Elaine reported:

a) A new team leader for reception staff was due to start on October 23.

b) The practice was still advertising for a second team leader to share the role over the two surgeries.

c) Membership of NAPP for the patient group had been renewed.

d) She thanked the PPG for distributing leaflets on the text messaging service and online appointments at the Flu Day outreach.

e) Flu Day seemed to have gone efficiently apart from the main door at Tollgate being unable to be used. Patients were asked to use the side entrance instead.

6 PPG Membership: Ray reported:

Active 16; Reserve 13, Supporters 248. Total 277

7 Newsletter:

Ray tabled the suggested November newsletter for supporters, which included flu jabs still being available, information on free medications checks from pharmacies and a suggestion to mums with young children that they bring something to keep the youngsters amused in case of appointment delays.

8 PPG Suggestion Boxes

No comments received since the last meeting.

9 Outreach.

a) Names were taken for the November 23 information stalls.

Tollgate …. Pam (am) and Linda (pm)

Ambrose …. Terry (am)

10 Coffee Morning and Health Walks

Ray said he was aiming for a start date in early 2018.

He was now talking to organisations providing existing public coffee mornings and tea afternoons to see whether there were added benefits to be obtained through partnership arrangements.

A team from Stanway U3A had prepared short health walks from both Tollgate and Ambrose surgeries and volunteers were prepared to assist with them.

He still needed to provide the detailed format to the practice on how the schemes would work and hoped to do this by the end of November.

11 North East Essex Health Forum.

a) The agenda for October Local Health Matters public meeting was tabled.

b) The agenda for the October Colchester PPG Liaison Group was tabled.

12 Newsbreaks

Ray tabled details of press releases from the NEECCG and CHUFT, all available from him if members wanted.

13 Any other Business:

a) Marilyn asked what the practice reaction to the results of the PPG’s young parents survey had been. Ray agreed to raise the question.

b) Members also said they would like an update on the practice response to the suggestion of remodelling the surgery at Ambrose Avenue. Again, Ray agreed to raise the query.

14 Outcomes

a) Members were pleased to hear of the team leader appointment and looked forward to positive benefits with the reception teams.

b) Members were pleased that Flu Day had gone well and that patients seemed to have responded to the increased information being supplied around the day.

c) Members appreciated the activity on coffee mornings and health walks.

d) Members welcomed the potential visits from providers to update them.

15 Next meeting

Monday November 13 at 6pm at Tollgate surgery.