Minutes of Hawthornden PPG
20th June 2016
Attendees:John MarshallAlison PeachMyra HurleyLiz Johncock
John TournierJane SeberAnne RonanMichael Garrido
Apologies:David Lunn
Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
Communication about the current pressure on the surgery – A discussion took place about the difficulty in finding new partners and the pressure that this puts on the surgery. There was general agreement that a more succinct letter than the one previously displayed in the waiting room would still be useful. It was also agreed that the placing of the letter next to the reception desk was not ideal and there were a few suggestions on other ways to get both this and other communications noticed:
- Have a separate noticeboard dedicated to surgery news
- Place laminated copies with the magazines
- Use a folder for latest surgery news – again placed with the magazines
- Put important notices on the door in and out
- Put important notices next to the automated check-in screen
- Send letters via email – ensuring that there is information on ‘opting-out’
- Use the screen above reception
Actions:
Check with David whether he has written a more succinct version of the letter – Jane
Find out whether there is capability to send out via email – Anne
We also discussed ways of encouraging patients to seek advice and support through the local chemists. It was agreed that we should initially talk to the local pharmacies to understand their expectations in this area before promoting them as an alternative to the GPs.
Action: Jane to arrange appointment to talk to Lloyds
Patient Pod:
Anne was pleased to confirm that use of the pod has picked up although there does not appear to be a solution to the delay between use and the results being available to the GPs.
Additional local housing:
Liz updated the meeting on a number of points to do with the new housing estates and the latest Local Plan was discusses which includes a significant number of new houses in Bourne End, with the potential to increase the population of the village by a third. The difficulty of attracting new Partners was discussed in relation to the need for them to buy not only into the Practice but also the building – in addition to the unaffordability of homes in Buckinghamshire.
In addition:
- Hawthornden’s branch surgery in Flackwell Heath was missing from the plan – that has now been put right.
- Management of GP provision is moving from NHS England to the CCGs
- The Flackwell Heath village survey confirmed that 76% of people think it is ‘really important’ to have a dispensing chemist and 66% think it is really important to have a GP Surgery in the village.
Changes to Hawthornden Surgery
Most significantly it has now been confirmed that the Hawthornden building in Wharf Lane is inadequate to meet future growth needs and that there is now a strategy to amalgamate Pound House and Hawthornden Surgeries into one, purpose built building. This will not be a partnership merger - the doctors from both practices are very clear about that. We will be able to share some back office work and may have a shared reception and waiting area, but the two practices will still operate as separate partnerships and patient lists will not be merged. There are a few similar models around Buckinghamshire - Calcot in Chalfont St Peter and Trinity Health/Rycote in Thame spring to mind. We look forward to getting more information in due course. Action: Anne
CCG Leaflets:
Anne has the leaflets now – they are awaiting a sticker to identify them with the individual surgeries. Action: Anne
Relationship with the CCG:
This is an on-going debate. Michael has attended a number of CCG meetings when able and it was agreed that it is really useful to have someone there. However, the timing of meetings is problematic. Where possible we should try to get a representative there and share information with Pound House (as has been done before). Action: All
National Association of Patient Participation:
Anne had made contact with the CCG to apply for our free registration.
Cherrymead:
Liz was very impressed with her visit to the Cherrymead PPG meeting. A GP and a nurse attend the meetings and they are a very active group, e.g. the PPG are very involved in surveys and they have talks every 6-8 weeks on various subjects.
Within Hawthornden Practice the PPG has always been left to find its own agenda, which has resulted in a lack of direction (little or no feedback from our patients as to what they want) and little to work on. We discussed how we might become more ‘visible’ to our patients – perhaps through organising information events for the community – and Youth and Legal Highs was suggested as a possible topic that would involve younger people. There is a level of frustration at the perceived lack of interest of the Partners in the PPG and we discussed arranging a meeting with them again to address this and other issues.
Action: Anne to discuss event with Dr. Abbas
Update on Practice changes:
Dr. Buxton would still like to reduce her hours.
Dr. Newman continues to attend CCG sessions on Wednesdays and is covered by Dr.Grappa.
Dr. Young is choosing not to return after her maternity leave.
Nurses: Kate has left and will be replaced by Sandy Rock shortly. A new respiratory nurse (Alex) will be starting with us and working on Fridays – specifically on Asthma and COPD.
AOB:
Minor Injuries & Illnesses Unit – High Wycombe:
We discussed 2 further (personal) examples of the very poor quality of service provided by the MIIU and the failure to get any response via email or telephone.
John Tournier – communication:
Since Dominique and Chris have left, John does not always get copies of PPG communications in his pigeonhole in the surgery. Anne will make sure that someone based at Hawthornden will take on responsibility to make this happen. Action: Anne
Proposed Date of next meeting: Monday 19th September 2016