TOWER HILL PARTNERSHIP MEDICAL PRACTICE
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP MEETING 20.12.17
PRESENT
PPG GROUP MEMBERS
11 PPG group members
Staff Members
Shamita Bhattacharyya, Kathryn Breakwell, Sarah McMulkin.
Apologies
Michael Perks, Adele Russon, Kath Bolton and John Whitehouse
- Shamita welcomed all members to our Patient ParticipationGroup.
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed to be a true record
It was noted that unfortunately “Run Birmingham” only had one person turn up so did not have enough people to keep this going.
- DISCUSSION OF EXTENDED EVENINGS PROJECT
This is an out of hours service where patients can be seen by a Doctor, Nurse or Health Care Assistant between 6.30pm and 8pm, patients call the surgery to book an appointment. All local clinics were held at The Slieve and Park House Surgery but Tower Hill are now able to hold some clinics. All present were asked if they had used the service and what they thought of it but nobody had used it yet.
- NEW DOCTORS WORKING AT THE PRACTICE.
We now have Dr S Deller and Dr T Khan working part-time at the surgery as Salaried GP’s both are female doctors. We also have two registrars, Dr Pepler and Dr Sinha again both female GP’s.
- END OF YEAR DISCUSSION WITH CLINICAL PHARMACIST
Tahir Mohammed attended this meeting to see if anyone had any outstanding prescription issues. One patient had experienced problems getting extra tablets added to her prescription when not enough had been issued originally. Tahir advised patient to always take a name so that any queries can be followed up and he would look into this matter for her.
- CHECK IN SCREENS UPDATE
The practice now has two new patient check-in machines, one on ground and one on first floor. Receptionists are encouraging patients to use these machines if they just have an appointment in the hope of reducing queues at the reception desk. John continues to help patients use these machines.
- FRIENDS AND FAMILY TEST
The patient group were asked to spread the word and encourage patients to complete, “Friends and Family” test, we have many positive comments passed to us but these are rarely added to our website or on the Friends and Family sheets available at reception.
- TELEPHONE SYSTEM REVIEW
There was a mixed review on the telephone system, some patients felt there could still be a long wait for calls to be answered but some had managed to get through without too long a wait. Patients were advised that some days are busier than others – Monday is usually busy, they were also advised that they may be a high number in the queue it is better to hold on and wait, if the phone is put down and patients call again they will automatically go to the back of the queue.
- ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Concerns were raised that the car park was very icy and difficult to drive and walk on. Everyone was reassured that the car park had been gritted.
A patient was reassured that a recent invitation to see a stoma nurse was a specialist nurse organised by the practice who had been with us for a short time to assess the stoma needs of patients.
Kathy to contact Emis to ask if the colours on the online booking/prescription ordering can be made darker as those with poor sight have difficulty using the current system.
A request was made to add the Christmas opening hours to our door, all were reassured that this would be done.
A PPG member wished to thank all at Tower Hill for all their good work over the last year.
The PPG group and all at Tower Hill wished all a happy Christmas.
Provisional date and time of next meeting will be 21.3.18.