MINUTES OF MEETING

Meeting: Patient Forum PRACTICE Group / Date: 11th March / Attendees:
Graham Sewell (Vice Chair)
Philippa Hammond
Francis Hall
David Craggs
Dr. Grant
Julia Steele
Cherrie Hirst
Pamela Elliott
Ian Hirst
Pat Greensmith
Apologies:
Roger Ward
Brian Myers (Chair)
Margaret Metcalfe
Julie Grey
One Hub Representative / Copies sent to:
Guests:
Helen Ward – Arts on Prescription
Jan Burden and Darren Storey – Durham County Carers Support/The Bridge
Lindsay Wright – 2D
Minutes of Meeting 22nd January 2013 / Agreed as true record / Completed
2 / Matters Arising / These will be covered on today’s agenda.
3 / Introductions / The group and guest speakers introduced themselves.
4 / Arts on Prescription – Helen Ward / Helen explained to the group that Arts on Prescription has been running for 2 years. The scheme covers the whole of Co. Durham and Helens area is Durham Dales. In the first year of the scheme 320 people joined Arts on Prescription. The target is for 410 people to engage each year. This is the second year and 450 people have engaged already, most of these being people who have self referred into the service. GPs can refer into this service and the scheme is trying to engage with practices to try and get more referrals from GPs as the target for year 3 is increase GP referrals. Helen distributed the schemes current timetable of activities and explained that pottery was very popular. The scheme also encourages people’s families to attend workshops together. The scheme is working with the local Children’s Centre. Film making sessions are currently running and these are aimed at men. The scheme also offers outreach sessions. Evaluations are done at the beginning and end of each course. Helen explained that there won’t be anyone who doesn’t meet the referral criteria in one way or another and circulated the relevant documents needed for referrals. Helen informed the group that in other practices in the area counsellors have been informed of the scheme and have signposted patients to the scheme.
5 / Jan Burden/Darren Storey – Durham County Carers Support and The Bridge / Darren explained to the group that he is a Health Development Worker for The Bridge which is a service for young carers aged between 5 – 18 years. Darren provides one to one support with young carers and also direct support to their families. Cases are graded on severity using a traffic light system and safeguarding children procedures are followed if needed. Darren circulated The Bridge’s Newsletter which included information in a school card pilot which is taking place at the moment. Darren explained that they have a health group for young carers at the Butterwick Hospice on a Wednesday evening. These are 8 weekly sessions. Darren is currently looking at working with practices to set up young carers registers. Darren also explained that he has a list of indicators that can identify a young carer and he will e-mail these to Cherrie to circulate. Darren also explained to the group that there is a young adult carers service called Horizon and this service works with carers aged between 14 – 25 years.
Jan Burden explained to the group that carers centres merged in July 2012 to expand the organisation to enable them to bid for funding. Funding has been guaranteed for next 3 – 4 years. There are currently 38 members of staff. The main contact is now in Consett. Carers can self refer and if they contact durham county carers support by telephone the member of staff will offer to call them back. A carers card has recently been introduced which is a discount card as well as an ID card. This service can provide a benefit check for carers to ensure they are receiving the income they should be. Assessments and funding for non-residential breaks can be arranged as well as access to funding for computers, driving lessons etc.
6 / Practice Update
·  CFEP Survey Results
·  Website
·  Cervical Screening Campaign
·  Weardale Practice Patient Forum Group / Julia explained to the group that the patient survey results had come through on Friday 8th March. The results were distributed to the group. The group agreed that they would look at the results in more depth meet up again on Monday 16th March to discuss these in more depth and produce an action plan for 2012/13.
Cherrie explained to the group that the practice were ready to launch their new website. A final demo will given at the meeting on 18th March and make any recommended amendments. Julia also asked the group for an article to go in the Patient Newsletter and also on to the website.
Julia explained to the group that the practice are currently working with the Talking About Cancer Team. One of the pieces of work is the cervical screening campaign which has started this month. The Talking About Cancer Team are running a drop in session today at Willington Community Action Centre to speak to patients regarding this.
Julia explained to the group that the practice manager from Weardale practice is trying to establish their patient forum members and have asked if one their members could attend our meeting or if one of our patient forum members could attend their meeting. David Craggs was happy to do this.
7 / Britton and Robson Updates / Nothing to report.
8 / SLAM Update
·  Child Gym Membership
·  Exercise On Prescription / Ian explained to the group that the childhood gym membership scheme is working well. GPs can any child into this service but to focus especially on childhood obesity. Children can access the child gym for free. This is a 12 month trial. 4 referrals have currently been made with 3 children attending regularly. GPs refer by calling SLAM and the children can access the service imminently. Feedback is given to the referring every 12 weeks informing them of the child’s progress. Feedback from patients has been positive.
SLAM are still having problems with the Exercise on Prescription scheme. Between Crook and Willington there have been 20 referrals. 6 of these have been classed as a system problem, which means that they have not been able to contact the patient after three attempts. Referrals that have been made in October are still not accessing the service. Out of all of the referrals, 3 patients have continued to access the gym and 1 patient has completed the full 12 week programme. The cost is also an issue. SLAM have recently secured funding to challenge the current programme and recruit 6 new instructors.
Julia asked Ian to e-mail over a current timetable of classes and activities that take place at SLAM.
9 / 2D – Lindsay Wright / Lindsay explained to the group that 2D is a small charity working with voluntary groups, organisations and also people who may be interested in volunteering. The charity is currently working with the clinical commissioning group and have secured funding to run a pilot with GP practices in the Dales who were interested. This pilot involves seeing patients with long term conditions for an advice and guidance session within the practice, producing an action plan on what they would like to do and getting them involved in volunteering as this has many benefits including keeping the mind active, boost confidence etc. Patients are to be referred into the service by GPs or Nursing team. The advice and guidance sessions will take place on a Thursday morning and approximately 3 – 4 patients can be seen. Lindsay provided the group with information leaflets to display. Lindsay also brought two members of the charity along to the meeting with her and one of them explained to the group how 2D had helped and benefited him.
Once the pilot is at an end the service will need to be evaluated and be shown to have saved money within the NHS.
10 / Dates for Future Meetings / Tuesday 18th June
Tuesday 17th September
Tuesday 17th December
11 / Speakers for Future Meetings / None requested.
12 / A.O.B.
Complimentary Therapies / Pat informed the group that the Cancer Centre within Willington offer complimentary therapies to people suffering from cancer and also their carers/family members.

Signature of Chair…………………………………………………….

Signature of Deputy Chair…………………………………………..