CHEVELEY PARK MEDICAL CENTRE
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP MEETING
WEDNESDAY 2nd JULY 2014
Present: G Bevan; S Metcalf; B Chambers; D Chambers; J Goodwill; S Radcliffe; R McKone; J Carling;
Dr C Jeffery; H Crampton
Apologies:E Kenmir; B Radcliffe; B Harvey
Minutes
1.No issues arose from minutes of last meeting.
2.Patient Reference Group update
JG had attended a recent meeting which he felt had allayed his fears of patients views not being heard by the CCG and that this was a tick box exercise. Following the meeting, he is confident that patient’s views are being taken into consideration by the CCG and reminded everyone that they were welcome to attend meetings. JG said that he and other patients had been less than impressed by the views of Professor Bob Hudson, who had criticised patients being able to offer ideas and help make decisions regarding the local health services.
Meetings JG had attended were: Governing Body Meeting, which discuss performance and finance of NDCCG [Future meetings to be held on 23 July - Greenhouse, Annfield Plain and 24 September - Allergate House, Belmont Industrial Estate]; North Durham CCG Summer Patient Congress, which was held at Bowburn and had stalls offering information and advice regarding various aspects of healthcare within the local area; Durham Community Action Group, who offer guidance on taking ideas and suggestions forward to the CCG; Durham and Chester-le-Street CCG, where a patient representative is invited to attend to hear the latest developments.
SM said that she had attended Healthwatch meetings, and they would be willing to take up patient issues if there was enough interest expressed.
3.New partnership
Dr Jamie Harrison retired from general practice at the end of April 2014. Dr Caroline Jeffery has been joined by Dr Niamh Telford as partner in the practice. Dr Telford has been working at the practice for a couple of years. Dr Jeffery reassured everyone that the ethics of a personalised approach remains the vision for the practice. Concerns have been raised regarding the fact that there are currently no male GPs in the practice. The partners are aware of this and the impact on patients who would prefer to consult with a male GP. They hope to address this in the near future, although the quality of GP would certainly be the main factor.
4.Surgery Improvements
We have been paying attention to areas of the surgery which would benefit from a makeover. New chairs have been purchased and the bench in reception is to be renewed and reupholstered, in line with recommendations for wipe clean surfaces for infection control and CQC guidelines. We are also awaiting new signage for the front of the building and also a sign to inform patients of the disabled entrance, next to which a bell will be fitted to ring for assistance.
JG questioned why the entrance was not going to be fitted with new disabled access doors. HC said that she had been advised that this would entail major reconfiguration of the front entrance which would be very expensive. JG said that he could see no reason why new doors could not be fitted to the existing entrance. HC had discussed the advice with the partners who had agreed that, for the moment, signageat the car park entrance and a bell to ring for assistance would be fitted for patients to alert staff, who would ensure access could be gained via the ramp. CJ added that the cost of installing new doors would be the partners responsibility and was not an option at the moment, but may be revisited at a later date.
5.Electronic Prescribing Service
This is to be implemented on 22nd July. It is a NHS funded service in England, enabling patients the chance to change how their GP sends their prescription to the pharmacist or medication provider. After receiving the request either by handing in their repeat slip or requesting online, the prescription can be sent electronically directly to their chosen pharmacy from which the patient can collect or request delivery (if they offer the service). Initially the service will be available to patients who have medication on repeat only. The patient must nominate a pharmacy of their choice from which to collect (or deliver) their prescription once it has been dispensed. Only one pharmacy can be nominated at any one time. For more information go to:
This received a good reaction from the meeting attendees overall, who thought it would save them time.
6.Permission to View Summary Care Record
The go live date for this was 25th June 2014. For patients with a Summary Care Record, and only with their prior permission, a health care provider such as urgent care centre, will be able to view allergies and medications if this help in the care of the patient. In an emergency situation, if the patient is unable to give permission, a privacy officer may override access, but this would only be an option if it would be of benefit to the patient’s care. This facility will not be available for patients who have opted out of the spine, or summary care record.
7.Text messaging service
This facility has been activated in the practice clinical system, and is an opt in service. The default is for the system to opt all patients out of receiving text messages, to be amended when an opt in form is received. Forms will soon be available at reception. New patients will have the option of this service when registering with the practice.
The functions available are to send a reminder for forthcoming appointments, and also to inform patients if an appointment or telephone consultation is required regarding recent test results.
8.Talking Therapies
CJ spoke about the recent proposals to change the method of delivering Mental Health Primary Care Talking Therapies to commence from 1st April 2015. The aim is to put in place a single point of access where all referrals will be triaged and directed to the most appropriate service. This would include counselling, CBT and primary care psychology. The service would be accessible via GP referral or self-referral. Information can be found in the information file in the waiting room.
9.Proposed changes to Urgent Care Services
As the demands on urgent care continue to increase, pressures and waiting times also increase. Therefore the Durham CCG has been looking at alternative arrangements in a bid to ease pressure and reduce waiting times for those most in need of urgent care. Therefore GP surgeries have been opening on some weekends for patients, who would otherwise have needed to the urgent care centre, to access care via a GP. We are currently open 2 Saturday mornings per month. Patients who cannot make weekday appointments, or who feel they need to be seen urgently can make an appointment to see a GP 2 days in advance. Patients contacting the 111 service who need to be seen will also be redirected to primary care and may be seen in their own surgery if it is open, or directed to another local surgery instead of going to the urgent care centre. A poster with the dates we are open is on display on the notice board.
Shotley Bridge urgent care centre will be a nurse-led minor op unit and it is proposed to open a new urgent care centre in Gateshead which will take patients from the Durham.
10.Care Packages
The practice is in the process of contacting patients who may have multiple problems to discuss their future care. This will enable them to discuss their preferred options when it comes to being cared for in the home or hospital and give the patient the right to decide how they wish to be cared for should the need arise. Dr Telford is currently addressing this and contacting patients.
11.O75s named GP
This scheme requires that all patients aged 75 and over are to be informed of their usual GP. This is the GP named on their record, although this may not necessarily be the GP they usually see. This does not affect their choice of GP when arranging appointments. All patients currently of this aged group have been informed and there will be a continuous program to inform patients as they qualify.
Action Plan
1.Install sign and bell to alert patients to ramped entrance.
2.Patients to have the option to sign up for electronic prescribing.
3.Patients to have the option to sign up for text messaging service.
4.Keep informed of future changes within urgent care service.
5.Keep informed of further developments regarding male GP in practice.