Stourport Health Centre Patient Participation Group Meeting (PPG)
Wednesday 9th March 2016 1pm
PresentKatie Bush (site manager), Maureen Howes (Chair), Cathy Mills (staff member), Ann Hughes, Clive Hunt, Garry Palmer, Michael Parfitt, Diana Chalmers, Brian Bloomer, Liz Bloomer, Trish Wheal, Barbara McCredie, Sheila Lamb, Phil Lamb, David Bateman, Trevor Stokes, Pauline Hadwell, Brian Hadwell, Dr Sarah Malcolmson
Apologies Cheryl MacKinnon, David Clark, Diana Clark, Beryl Talbot, Chris Farlow
Maureen welcomed everyone to the meeting and said how pleased she was to see so many especially as it was such a wet and windy day! She had been delighted to report to a recent PPG Chairs meeting that we had over 20 regular members and she was proud to say that our group is the best supported of the 12 in Wyre Forest. She had also replied to a letter from the Chief Executive of the Wyre Forest Health Partnership (WFHP) to say the same.
Meeting time Today has been a change from the usual meeting time, from 6pm to 1pm. This change was discussed. It was felt that a lunchtime meeting was difficult for those who worked to attend but that a daylight meeting suited everyone. It was agreed that during the summer months meetings would be held at 6pm and in the winter meetings should alternate.
Minutes The minutes from the last meeting were accepted. The rolling TV screen has been slowed down for easier reading. The sound system has been checked and passed, the problem appears to be with the user speaking too quietly or quickly or speaking too close to the microphone.
Christmas Meal Liz Bloomer and her many helpers had organised a meal on Christmas Day to offer hot cooked food and friendship to those who would otherwise be alone. She reported that 42 attended and it was such a great success that a reunion afternoon tea party was being held this weekend. New friends had been made and new people are always welcome. Please contact Liz via the surgery for more information.
Fund Raising for defibrillator Cathy was pleased to announce that the total now stands at £1341.19 with another £10 donation this morning. We are well on the way to the target of £2000. The money has been raised with a coffee morning hosted by Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Stourport on Severn(RASSOS), Christmas Hamper raffle, Coop bag pack, book sales and generous donations from patients and Severn Lodge. The winner of the hamper was Mrs Mabel Ellis-Jones and Cathy thanked Maureen for donating the hamper and contents. The book sale has so far raised £182.43 and it was decided to make this a permanent feature. Diana Chalmers kindly volunteered to be ‘book monitor’ and will pop into surgery as often as she can to refill the shelves and empty the cash box. Cathy asked for more books with a particular plea for good quality children’s books. A big thank you to everyone who has helped to raise this amazing sum so quickly.
The next event is a Tombola on Fri 18th March in the foyer of Stourport Coop from 10am till 2pm. Lots of good quality unwanted items and gifts have been pouring in and help is required on the day. Ann Hughes, Diana Chalmers, Barbara McCredie, Cheryl Mackinnon and Beryl Talbot will help Maureen. Michael Parfitt and Diana Chalmers will lend pasting tables.
Obesity Plan 2013 – 2016 Maureen had been to a meeting where this had been discussed and asked Dr Sarah Malcomson to explain. Previously this was funded through gp practices but this has switched to the Living Well service. This is for over 16’s in the Wyre Forest with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30+. Trained healthcare advisors help with healthy eating, exercise, mental health issues, etc. Self-referral can be made via email, telephone or gp surgery. There will be some information leaflets produced. In support of this Maureen is keen to start a social walking group at Stourport Sports Club on the Kingsway, maybe starting in April. It would cost £1 a week per person for using the track and all would be welcome, walkers, zimmers, buggies, trikes etc. This would also be an opportunity to make new friends especially with a natter and drink afterwards. This will be promoted in surgery.
Health and Wellbeing (Buddy system) Katie reported that this was up and running with referrals being made to York House Medical Centre where the scheme has been running successfully for 18 months now (there are not enough rooms here to accommodate it). Anyone can self-refer by contacting reception here for help with benefits, employment, relations, housing, bills, isolation, support groups etc. This service is linked to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
AOB
Maureen had been to a PPG Chair meeting last night where loneliness and the Dudley Hospitals were discussed. Loneliness is a big problem and referrals can be made using the above Health and Wellbeing scheme which can refer on to Reconnections. This is led by Age UK with support from other local charities and organisations to tackle loneliness amongst older people living in Worcestershire. The Dudley Group of hospitals is now available for referrals for many conditions. After a change of contract locally the waiting list here for some referrals is considerably longer than it is in the Dudley group therefore patients are being offered a choice. If transport is a problem for appointments or for joining a social group Community Transport can help with a door to door service. For more information and costs please contact reception.
There was no news about a new building.
The wifi has been installed and we have computers for patient use. However at the moment the IT department is very busy rolling out the gp telephone call back system used here to the other WFHP surgeries. When this is completed we will proceed with training for our patients for getting online and using our website and for Patient Access for prescription ordering, making telephone appointments etc.
A question was asked about the phone line being engaged. Cathy explained that Monday mornings were always busy and that although there was only one number for reception it was for two lines not just one, as well as the prescription lines and the separate number for one stop appointments.
Dr Sarah Malcomson asked for comments about a new prescription ordering service that was being considered. The WFHP is keen to share best practice and Church Street in Kidderminster has successfully withdrawn telephone ordering except for the vulnerable. This was removed slowly over a 3 month period with lots of information about it in surgery, local pharmacies and newspapers. Patients continue to order online, through their pharmacy, by dropping into the surgery or by post. This has freed up the phone lines for all other calls. A question was asked about pharmacies being able to cope as the workload would be shifted to them. Dr Malcomson commented that the pharmacies were better placed to deal with orders and queries as they had the training and experience and we would be liaising closely with them. Our current prescription line leaves room for error between staff and the patient. The new system would offer a more controlled way of ordering. A question was asked about the gp not seeing the request if it went through the pharmacy. Dr Malcomson reassured the meeting that all requests, however they are made, are signed off by the doctor. Another question was asked about the box available for comments when ordering online. It states that additional items not on repeat should not be ordered this way but Dr Malcomson could see no reason why this is a problem and will look into it. She asked PPG members to consider the proposal and let us know their thoughts. A date has not yet been set for this change.
The current shortage of specimen bottlesfrom the hospital was explained and we continue to kindly ask patients to find, reuse and sterilise containers with boiling water whenever possible.
The Surgery Social Care Fund was highlighted and details were passed to Maureen.
A question was asked about having blood pressure and blood tests at the same appointment. Our phlebotomist is currently training to take blood pressures so we should be able to look at this.
Cathy mentioned Carers week, 6th to 13th June, to be promoted in surgery to find more carers and offer support. Maureen suggested another coffee morning to coincide with this with Age UK and other charities. Help from the PPG will be sought for this week and we could involve York House. All offers of help and suggestions will be welcome.
The meeting ended with lovely comments about the very efficient service offered by Stourport Health Centre and how friends of patients here were envious of their good fortune! (Thank you from all the staff)
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 31st May at 6pm when we hope to have a speaker. If anyone has any questions or items for inclusion please contact Maureen.