St Martin’s Gate PPG minutes

St Martin’s Gate Patient Participation Group
St Martin’s Gate Board Room
Date / Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Note taker / Pauline Sanders
Attendees
Apologies / Dr Emma Rawson, Meg Richards, Karen Chidlow, Royston Godsmark, Rahina Kassim, Karen Lewis, Cherry Painter, Alison Sanders, Pauline Sanders,Jeremy Thomas, Cynthia Tye
Robert Brown
Agenda item
  1. The minutes from the last meeting were agreed.
  1. The group welcomed new member Jeremy Thomas who hopefully will enjoy his time spent at our meetings.
  1. Updates on practice from MR:-
  • PPG members - MR/KC had contacted and invited all the patients who had shown an interest in joining the group but this resulted in only one new member out of the nine contacted. JT suggested that publishing more information about the group might help either by posting on the website or on the Information Boards in reception.It was also suggested that an A4 sheet about the group should be created and sent to anyone showing an interest in joining. Agreement was also given for the PPG minutes to be published on the practice website.
  • Practice list size - The practice list size had increased to 11,649 as at 1st April 2012. Slight concern was shown regarding the proposed plan for a new 87 bedded care home, 50 care apartments and 150 new houses all to be built within the practice catchment area which could hugely increase the practice workload.
  • Staff changes – Dr Whitmore retired in March 2012 and Dr Solesbury has become senior partner.
All the new staff mentioned at previous meetings had settled in well and at the next practice
Educational Meeting all doctors, nurses and staff were scheduled to attend for the first time in 10
years. A locum GP and bank staff will man the surgery as necessary.
  1. Patient Surveyupdate– The survey has been approved by the PCT and all actions requested have been instigated including adding extra information on a variety of the practice procedures onto the Amscreens and the website.
  1. Website – Viewing figures for the practice website have continued to increase in volume with a total of 172,617 hits in the past 13 months and figures show this number to be increasing on a monthly basis. In view of the hits, MR explained how important it was that the website always be as up to date as possible. Various links had been added including information on certain long termconditions all of which had been requested either via the practice survey or at previous PPG meetings.
Following the success of the practice website MR asked the group how they thought we could get more people to use it, particularly people who did not have a computer. JT suggested patientscould ask a trusted friend to access the website for them either for information or to request prescriptions. It was also agreed that compliment slips containing the website address would be produced and available in reception. A further suggestion by KL was that PPG members could spend time in reception demonstrating how to access the website. Both CP and RG agreed to join KL and spend a morning/afternoon in reception on a date suitable to the practice, however before this could take place it will be necessary to purchase a ‘dongle’ to enable internet access, Dr ER was asked to look into this.
  1. Other PPG’s – During our Decembermeeting KL mentioned the success of health forums held at a practice in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire and details of two of their discussion groups are attached, howeverthis would need further discussion if St Martin’s Gate were to run similar sessions as the partners would need to agree to be involved. Also attached for information is an Information time line for the PPG at the Winchcombe practice which was set up in June 2010.
  1. PPG Network and Support Group–MR talked briefly about the South Worcestershire PPG Network and Support Group and their aims. She asked whether any member(s) would like to represent our group at the next support meeting but no one offered, however all members were issued the latest minutes of the PPGN&SG meeting and could attend should they wish to do so.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 4th July 2012 at 6.30pm
Person Responsible / Deadline
3. A brief summary about St Martin’s Gate PPG to be sent to all interested parties / MR / Asap
5. To purchase suitable hardware for internet access in reception / Dr ER / Asap
5. To arrange a suitable date for a website display in reception / MR / Asap