The Old School Surgery

Dr S Kitchin & Partners

The Old School Surgery

Stoney Stanton

Leicester

LE9 4LJ.

Patient Participation Group

Date: Tuesday 22th November 2016, 1pm.

Venue: The Old School Surgery, Hinckley Road, Stoney Stanton.

______

Minutes

Attendees

Karen Smith (KS) Practice Manager

Charlotte Burgess (CB) Patient Group Member

Frank Burgess (FB) Patient Group Member

Sarah Eaves (SE) Patient Group Member

Anne Davies (AD) Patient Group Member (Chair)

Gloria Brook (GB) Patient Group Member

Jacky Bowyer (JB) Patient Group Member

Karin Alexander (KA) New Group Member

Dr Steven Kitchin (SK) Senior Partner

Diane Brannan (DB) Patient Group Member

Christine Phillips (CP) New Group Member

No / Actions / Who
1 / Apologies
Stuart Urmston
2 / The meeting opened with members being offered the opportunity to declare any financial or other interest they might have in any of the items tabled for discussion. None were forthcoming. / AD
3 / The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted & signed. / AD
4
. / The Group received a very interesting and informative presentation from Liz Steel, from the Alzheimer’s Society, about the remit, work and other aspects of the Society, both nationally and in our area. It transpired that one of our members (GB) is a Dementia Champion for this area! We were left with some useful literature, and an offer to stage a free “Dementia Friends” presentation in the village, if this could be arranged, in the new year. The information presented was very wide ranging, from support services, referrals, financial support available and local support groups for both sufferers and their carers. The Group was very appreciative, and expressed thanks to FB for setting up the presentation.
5 / AD asked for clarification of the matter of receptionists asking for details of one`s complaint, when making an appointment. The Group was reminded that the primary reason for this is so that the patient may be directed to the most appropriate source of assistance, and is not prurient curiosity. Patients are always given the opportunity to with-hold this information if they so wish.
6 / The problem of test results being made available across County borders was raised. At present, if a Leicestershire patient is referred to eg. George Eliot hospital for specialist treatment, any tests carried out locally, in pursuance of the treatment are not available to the George Eliot medical team.
CB reported that she had been requested by her G/E consultant, to obtain a print-out of recent test results, & take them to her next appointment. This does not seem to be a very sensible use of time & resources. No solution to this problem was offered!
7&8 / FB had already circulated copies of the notes taken by him from the WLCCG meeting on 10th Nov. & those from the AGM on 20th September. No questions or comments were forthcoming.
9 / KS presented initial findings from the annual Survey. These were largely encouraging, though the response was disappointing.
The prototype new Practice Newsletter was ready for perusal. The Group was asked to study this document at their leisure and respond to KS with any comments/observations asap. It is planned to make the newsletter available on line, and in the libraries and in the surgery.
10 / Feedback from the recent CQC audit was positive on the day concerned. Some PPG members had made themselves available for interrogation, and patients had been given the opportunity to contribute also. Safety concerns were raised by the auditors over the isolation of staff at “Greencroft”. These have been addressed. Staff now have a panic button, and contact the main surgery at a given time daily, to confirm that they are in post. We are awaiting the official report.
11 / AOB. AD & FB have reviewed the Terms of Reference for the PPG. Members will be circulated with the resulting document, & responses are invited as soon as possible.
AD reported that she had been approached by one of the librarians, concerned that an elderly patient had been seeking assistance to photo-copy a medical document. She was concern that the patient`s privacy was at risk, and also questioned the validity of the requirement to copy the document in the first place. SK expressed his surprise, and confirmed this is not something patients would normally be expected/required to do.
It was suggested that we use the timing of Alzheimer`s Awareness week in May 2017 to offer the suggested presentation on Dementia Friends. We might be able to use the village hall in either Sapcote or Stony Stanton free of charge for the event.
FB informed the Group of an open meeting to be held in the Masonic hall in Hinckley on Monday November 28th, to learn more about the proposed changes to health care provision in the area. He was planning to attend, and offered a lift to any-one else interested in going.
12 / Proposed dates & times for next year`s meeting were published, but are open to challenge/alteration, if necessary. There being no other business, the meeting closed at 2.10pm