The Castle Medical Centre

PATIENT REFERENCE GROUP

Minutes of the interim PRG Meeting on June 9th2016

Chair –Keith Rockett

Present;

Jane Cunningham, Patrick Gates,Gail Helfet,Rosemary Shiell, John Shiell, Keith Rockett, Barbara Sheppard, Jean Yea

Apologies;

Thuy Hoan Gibb, Pat Hough, Andy Matthews, Val Millman, Val Mobberley, Jim Price, Judith Nicholls, Ian Smith, Margaret Wallis

  1. The Chairman welcomed members.
  1. Election of officers 2016-17

One nomination had been received for each of the officer posts and each was unanimously approved at the meeting: Keith Rockett will continue for a second term as Chair, Val Mobberley for a fourth term as Vice-Chair and Jane Cunningham was elected Secretary. The re-elected Chairman explained that he wishes his responsibilities with regard to representation at the PPPG to continue to be delegated, and Barbara Sheppard( seconded by Kay Shiell)nominated Jane Cunningham , who was elected. We are also fortunate in having two more members involved at the PPPG level, with roles on the Primary Care Working Group.

  1. Apologies – see above.
  1. Approval of Minutes 7.3.16 and 27.4.16

Approval of the minutes of these meetings was deferred to the next full meeting. The minutes to be recirculated closer to that meeting

  1. Matters Arising from Meeting of 27th April 2016
  1. Dementia meeting –

A member attended the recent regional event held in Nuneaton and gathered information leaflets and other materials, which could be used either as general materials in the surgery, or at a Practice-held event. The Practice held a meeting on this topic last year and while it has been agreed that a future meeting focussed on living well with dementia would be helpful and of interest to the general patient body, this is not practical until a while after the surgery’s building/infrastructure improvements are completed. To review at next full meeting

A further topic suggested by members for a future general meeting was alcohol and drug related problems and support for families affected.

  1. Survey of Patient Views

Keith Rockett reported that the member who volunteered to submit a survey proposal has apologised for being unable to submit it before this meeting. It was agreed this would now be better left until next year, when the building improvements at the surgery have been completed and can also be assessed. Most patients will then also have had experience of the Doctor First system and can comment on it.

The Flu clinics were viewed as a useful opportunity to publicise the PRG and members agreed that they would attend the clinics. A new leaflet/flyer will be produced to explain the work of the PRG. A member has offered to take the lead with this. Other possible groups to target with information were those at Smalley Place clinic ( eg. baby clinics). To be decided next meeting - whether members should give information only, or ask any questions to patients at the flu clinics .If so, which might be the most important to ask. Volunteers will be asked to commit their time for a couple of sessions each, if possible.

  1. Report from recent PPG meetings

Two PPPG meetings were held since our last PRG meeting, both attended from our PRG. A summary was given of some of the main issues. (These are also contained in Edition 13 of the PPPG Update available on the CCG website. Some key performance statistics are also given in pages 1-2 of this report)

There was little new information on the vexed issue of Out of Hours commissioning, where previous efforts to commission have been unsuccessful and the re-tendering process continues. This includes the NHS 111 service. Our PPPG has a representative who will attend “scenario days”during June, but as yet has little to report.

There have been further developments on Out of Hospital services The individual CCGs are now working together in their regional areas. SWFT is involved in the new transformative process.

Over70s Project – was reviewed in May at Gateway meeting . A survey of people who engage and those who deliver the services is to be undertaken.

Presentations – At the May meeting, an exercise was conducted to get reps’ views on which of a range of quality objectives should be prioritised. Data from this exercise will be taken forward.

At the June meeting, Dr Richard Lambert spoke onprescribing policies, his area of expertise, which was very well received.

Gillian Entwhistle ( C.O. Coventry and Warwks) gave an overview and update on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan. This included health indicators, direction of travel for the next 5 years, etc, and will be reported on more fully at next PRG meeting.

Notifications of forthcoming meetings -

The next Have Your Say Day is in Southam on the 6th September. There are morning and afternoon sessions -contact number01926 353810 to book your place.

  1. Neighbourhood Plan

The Chair explained that a referendum on this will be combined with the county council elections. KR is a member of the sub-group looking at the planning process with regard to medical services, as is the Chair of Abbey Practice. Debate has centred around the possible need for a new Practice in the Kenilworth area given housing expansion and that both existing Practices have been running at capacity. (Both have carried out recent alterations to create more consulting areas and achieve greater flexibility on patient numbers).KR has consulted Dr Rapley on his views on practice capacity, and found him open-minded on whether or not a new Practice would be a good idea in Kenilworth.

NHS England and the SWCCG will have their own instructions and opinions on this.

Patient Views included;

– central location of both current surgery buildings, would one located nearer area of new housing growth be helpful?

-Greater choice if three Practices.

-Optimum size of Practice – advantage of larger Practice, greater ability to offer wider range of facilities/services; disadvantage seen to be impersonality, possible mini-hospital feel.

KR explained that the population increase is more difficult to estimate from the number of new homes, due to lower occupancy rates per property prevailing in Kenilworth.

  1. Any other business

Pharmacy care, Repeat Prescriptions, Online Booking

The NHS is encouraging patients with minor complaints to consult their pharmacists as the first point of call, rather than making a GP appointment. Pharmacists are trained to advise patients when they would need to see a doctor instead.

Several patients had experienced difficulties with the repeat prescription system, including delays and request for review by the pharmacy before dispensing.The new system of pharmacists being paid per review carried out was discussed.

A member queried whether the repeat blood testing system could be streamlined to obviate the need to involve the doctor in issuing a form each time.

Several members had experienced difficulties with the online booking system recently and the Chairman will discuss this with the Practice to see what further information can be obtained. It was thought that some patients may need to re-register.

There was some discussion about encouraging all patients to register for the service as it currently gives those registered an access advantage.

The next meeting will be held at the surgery on

Wednesday,September 7that 7.00pm

Patients are needed as Health Champions. South Warwickshire would like to have 2,700 health champions to give a broad representation of its population. Please look online and consider whether you would like to apply.

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