Minutes of Patients Participation Group (PPG) on Thursday, 20th October 2016

Attendees:

Sally Lomax -Practice Manager

William Banks

Sheila Cracknell

Peter Frazer

Barbara May

Christine Parkes

Geoffrey Parkes

Fred Tomlinson

Introduction:

Sally welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave an overview of her career at the Woodley Village Surgery.

Update on Changes:

Sally has been at the surgery for 6 years and has recently taken on the role of Interim Practice Manager for six months as well as continuing in the role of Health Care Assistant following Siobhan resignation due to personal circumstances. Sally together with the Doctors and Staff are working hard to ensure patients are being taken good care of after all the recent changes. There is a solid team in place including reception and they are hoping to take Jamie on permanently following completion of her apprenticeship in March 2017.

Sally clarified the present organisation and services as follows:

  • Dr Choudry is Senior Partner of the Woodley Village Surgery.
  • Dr Finch is currently off ill but hoping to be back in a few weeks.
  • There are two locums assisting Dr Choudry at the moment together with Dr Tang (when available).
  • Emma the Practice Nurse is back from maternity leave and working two days a week at present and patients can make an appointment with her for minor ailments, diabetic conditions, immunisations and flu or travel injections.
  • Routine appointments to see a Doctor, unless urgent, are up to 3-4 days.
  • House calls are to house bound patients only and the Doctor will telephone and prioritise if this is required.
  • A Stockport base Nurse ANP is also available to visit house bound patients and again will prioritise if a visit by the Doctor is required.
  • Late night surgery will be back in service from 31st October 2016.
  • Dr Choudry completes a training course on Student Doctors (FY2) and this will enable the practice to have this additional resource.

Continued:

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Telephone System:

  • Sally is looking at the current Call System and is aware of the problems being experienced due to the demand on the system and is liaising with the Care Commissioning Group (CCG) regarding a new telephone system that will have a message informing you what position you are in call queue.

Confidentiality:

  • Concerns were raised over confidentiality when at the reception. The concerns were:
  • Patients talking about private matters when other people queuing behind or at the side of you are able to overhear your discussion with the receptionist.
  • Sally was very much aware of these concerns and is at present looking at how this can be addressed taking into account the present layout of the reception area.

The final discussion was related to the building, this is owned by a Private Landlord and therefore the practice cannot make any changes without their permission. Sally has approached them about updating signage for the surgery area and having the Doctor’s names put on the parking bays as there are times when people have parked in the bay or blocked the Doctors in which is highly dangerous if they were called to an emergency situation. To date Sally is waiting for a quotation forthe signage works to be carried out.

Any Other Items:

It was brought up by a member of the group that his wife had waited in with a neighbour who is not well and very deaf for an arranged call from a Doctor which did not happen. Sally recognised this particular issue and was able to confirm that the Doctor had tried to call twice but could not get an answer on either occasion. The member will relay this back to the neighbour.

Future Meeting:

It was agreed that the meeting will be held quarterly with the next meeting being January 2017 unless otherwise informed.