Patient Participation Group Meeting Minutes
Tuesday 4th February 2014 @ 7.00pm
Present: SS, ZI, HS, RB, LB, ML, KB, PH, MK, MK, KN, NH.
Everyone introduced themselves.
KN chaired the meeting and talked to the group about the purpose of the meeting. ZI asked the group if they have any ideas and suggestions.
KN asked the group if they had any services that patients needed that we could provide as a practice. ZI suggested communication was needed between the practice and patients as it was not clear, an example of this was the record sharing a lot of patients do not understand this. KN suggested having volunteers from the group to give out information to patients , the practice would also help out with this.
The group then went on to discuss appointments. Patients thought the Saturday service was good but this did not stop patients from using the A&E service whilst the practice was open. HS said he has not had any problems getting an appointment, he rings in at 8.00am and is booked in for the same day. RB and ZI agreed with HS. KN said the majority of the daily appointments are minor ailments and it is usually the same patients that are in everyday. ZI asked why the doctors are prescribing paracetamol, patients should be advised by the doctors to go buy it. Staff informed the group that if patients are not seen for minor ailments they go to A&E. The group suggested putting up a notice like Dr Gilkar’s have stating doctors will not prescribe for minor ailments. ZI suggested having a minor ailments scheme again and educating the patients regarding this. This was discussed with the doctors and they said if the patients are not prescribed paracetamol they go to A&E where they are prescribed antibiotics. ZI and SS discussed about a programme they had seen on the TV about a doctor from Manchester doing skype calls with patients rather than them coming to the surgery for an appointment.
KN informed the group that it is likely that new contracts will en force how many appointments a GP must have per 1000 patients per day
KN said the minor ailments scheme may be able to brought back, There have been discussions within the CCG. MK said if the minor ailments scheme does go through this can be advertised by giving patients slips, on the back of prescriptions, on the call board or have volunteers to discuss this with the patients for a few hours a week. The volunteers would need named badges.
MK will be doing a health promotion on life style and diet. She will also discuss and hand out how to deal with minor ailments leaflets. This will be on a Tuesday at 3.00pm. SS and ML volunteered to help MK with this.
ZI suggested getting funding from healthy eating supermarkets, they may be able to do diabetes patients tours. The group were advised that staff will check with the practice nurse to see if she has any leaflets on this.
HS asked if the doctors could give their feedback on prescribing for minor ailments. Staff will ask.
The next group meeting will be Tuesday 4th March @ 7.00pm.