AUDLEY MILLS PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP

Tuesday 24th September 2013

AUDLEY MILLS MEDICAL EDUCATION CENTRE

MINUTES

  1. Welcome and apologies

Brian Dawbarn (BD) welcomed everybody and read out the apologies. He said that it probably was now time to change the name of Audley Mills User Group into Audley Mills Patient Participation Group (AMPPG), as this is now how the CCG and NHS England want the groups to be known.

  1. Minutes of last meeting

BD went through these for accuracy and they were agreed.

  1. Patient Participation Scheme

SD reminded everyone of the way that the patient participation scheme had worked for the previous two years and thanked all of the members for their assistance. He said that it would appear that this would probably be the last year for the scheme. He said that in the next 4 to 6 weeks he would be writing with a questionnaire to the groups of patients previously suggested which was;

100 random patients who have e-mail addresses, as well as

40 on the Coronary Heart Disease register

40 males between 55 and 65

20 parents of children between five and 12

He said that the results of a questionnaire would be sent to the Group and that they would be discussed at the next meeting.

  1. Complaints summary

SAD had prepared a summary of complaints in the last six months. It was agreed that there weren't many of these, which was encouraging. Dr Wright explained that all complaints were discussed by the doctors and an annual report was prepared. He said that serious clinical complaints were discussed at the Thursday clinical meeting held each week. BD asked if it would be possible for an additional column to be added to the report to show what the outcome was.

  1. Comments/ suggestions from group members
  • There was a question about Child Safeguarding and how this was dealt with at the Surgery. SD said that all of the staff and clinicians had annual training at different levels and that the Lead for the Practice was Dr Lucy Saville.
  • There was a question about why it wasn’t possible to book an appointment on line with a Nurse. SD explained that Nurse appointments have to be dealt with by reception as there are too many variables – which room, which nurse, which equipment was needed, length of appointment etc. It was suggested that a message to this effect should be put on the system and SD agreed to do this.
  • There was a question about telephone consultations and whether these had been considered. SD said that they were discussed as an option on a fairly regular basis but none of the GPs felt it would be possible to provide as safe a service over the phone.
  1. Update
  • Workload/ appointments

SD said that as usual the summer period had been relatively quiet for appointments and that there had been plenty available. This applied to phlebotomy appointments as well, although the nurses’ appointments were somewhat busier. He said that the system online booking system was working very well and was being used increasingly by patients. He said also that the system of texting patients to confirm their appointments and to send them reminders had also proved successful.

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  • Flu Vax/Child Flu Vax/ Shingles Vax

SD said that the flu campaign would go ahead as usual this year although it would be slightly complicated by the campaign from the Department of Health to offer a nasal vaccine to some children between the ages of two and four. He said that there was also a new shingles vaccine that would be available to a limited number of patients, specifically those aged 70 or 79 on 1st September 2014.

  • Care Quality Commission and working with AMPPG

BD referred to a document he had been sent by the Care Quality Commission which referred to how they will be working with Patient Participation Groups and with their GP Practice. He was in agreement with his details being passed on to the CQC should they request it at any time that he was Chairman of the PCT. SD said that he understood that in the event of a CQC visit to the Practice (of which they would be given a maximum of 48 hours notice) the Inspectors wouldn’t expect the PPG Chair to be present.

  • CCG/PRG

There was a discussion about the current position of Castle Point & Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group and also the role of the Clinical Reference Group. BD requested that any important changes should be circulated to members of the Group by e-mail rather than waiting for the next meeting.

  • Staff and Doctor changes

SD said that Dr Lewis and Dr Kerry were both planning to reduce their sessions slightly in the next few months, but there had been two new partners appointed – Dr Rehal & Dr Arikawe. The Practice had also taken on a salaried GP, ( who was previously a Registrar), Dr Mara Mitrea.

  • Telephone System

SD said that there were still a few complaints about the 0844 number, as although it cost the same as BT from a landline it couldn’t be included in bundles and cost a lot more from a mobile. He said he was still trying to find a replacement system that could provide a local number and a queuing system, although there was still over 2 years to run on the contract with the current provider.

  • 111 Services/Out of hours

So far the service provided was proving satisfactory in this area.

  • Pathology service

SD said that the proposal to move Pathology services form the local area to Bedfordshire had finally been shelved, much to everyone’s relief.

8. AOB

SD advised the Group the Audley Mills Pharmacy was no longer owned by the Partners as it had been sold to a Mr B Patel, who was an excellent pharmacist.

  1. Date of next meeting :

6.00pm on Wednesday 12th March 2014(and SD was asked to produce a quarterly report on in December 2013)

BD thanked everyone for giving up their time.