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1. / Present: Roger Tripani, Martin Pigott, Amy Dare, Elly Potter, Norah Jaggers, Dawn Squire, John Trevellyan, Lorraine Phipps
2. / Apologies:
3. / Minutes from last meeting matters arising:
- Skype consultations – Discussed no further progress.
- Pharmacist – EP gave update on CH our clinical pharmacist; explained Catherine is now seeing patients.
- Name Board – Still no further progress with this, will discuss again at next meeting as should be up and running by then.
- Coeliac – EP apologised as due to workload she was unable to complete this request.
4. / Points for discussion:
- Membership and involvement - It was agreed by all members of the group that we need to try and increase numbers of our listening group and start including our blind group in virtual communications. We agreed that hopefully by starting to communicate more frequently with the blind group there may be some members who contribute frequently who then may like to join our listening group.
- Staff updates (Juliet Retired, Nurse Update) – EP gave update on staff, explained we have now said goodbye to Juliet Fuke and hired a new receptionist; Debs Purcell. Elly informed group of Marion Nelson leaving so we have hired Sally Dalton (an experienced Practice Nurse previously worked at Sid Valley practice) for a few short months until Donna-Marie Billings returns to work following her maternity leave.
- Seaton Hospital update – After the recent decision has been made to close Seaton Hospital the group discussed their opinions and feelings towards the decision. Townsend’s overall decision is to support an appeal process as our main concern is the care within the community. Further information to follow as and when it is made available.
- GP 10 high impact area’s–EP updated the group on the work that has been done under the 10 high impact areas, a group of 13 practices around East Devon have forged an alliance (called East Devon Health) to undertake this work as a federation and streamline processes for patients across the patch. Work has started by using Health by Navigation training for receptionists so that they are able to signpost patients to the most appropriate service. The 2nd piece of work is utilising text messages for appointments, and inviting patients to come in for health promotions such as influenza vaccination. (Townsend has already been using this successfully for around a year now) We are actively asking patients for their mobile numbers as experience shows patients are more likely to respond to a text than a letter.
- Your future care plan – This consultation has now closed and we are still awaiting decision as to what our GPs will be offered. They currently oversee all the patients in Seaton Hospital, including patients from Axminster. Until the decision has been made we are unable to plan for the future, the care in the community service has not been fully applied yet so we have no option but to wait and see.
- Use of courier to and from Exeter Mobility Centre” onto the agenda.Item raised by Norah Jaggers. Orthotics department use the courier service to supply items to our patients, Norah asked if we could investigate patients being able to return items using the courier service. EP agreed to investigate and report back at next meeting.
- Social Communication (email, forum, twitter, Facebook) – AD and EP discussed the group communicating a lot more via social media and email, it was also discussed about getting the blind group involved by including them in all emails. It was agreed that smaller information could be sent via email to the group instead of discussed at the meetings so the meeting time is freed up for more important topics. It was also discussed in regards to having available WIFI in the practice for all patients and visitors. EP explained that there is some funding becoming available over the next few months to put this into place.
EP
5. / AOB:
None raised
6. / Date for next meeting: 26 June 2017