Meeting Report – 2nd February 2017

The PPG welcomed new member Mindy Daubeny who replaces Amanda Francis.

MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES – Once Dr Hill has liaised with the CCG and finished his presentation for the PPG, we will help with encouraging a higher uptake of childhood immunisation for older children.

GP PRACTICE AND CCG RELATIONSHIP – We asked for clarification on the relationship between OHC and the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group). Ronnie Godfrey explained that the CCG work out of Tandridge Council offices and are a combination of all local GPs, other clinicians and administration. They are responsible for commissioning healthcare services within general practice for the local population working to achieve the best possible outcome for improving public health. However, problem with inherited debt and being in special measures NHS England are looking at all costs. GP practices and CCG look at services that are cost effective, each practice is its own business and the CCG can offer services if OHC have a need. GP practice have contract with NHS England, then they have a contract with CCG and they look at secondary care to work in primary care, as part of new network groups and part of the federation. Need to look at peer triaging referrals and work with other practices to review causes. Meetings at Nutfield give advice of what goes on locally with SASH and practices.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE – Ronnie Godfrey advised that local indemnity insurance is being looked at and revisions regarding complaints procedures. It was noted that dermatology and gynaecology have high referrals of investigation.

TALKS UPDATE – There was a lower turnout than usual to the excellent Children's Health talk. We discussed what we wanted to achieve with our talks and how else we can pass on the information covered in the talks with perhaps live streaming. We talked about the possibility of having a Health Fair on a Saturday. The next talk at the end of April/early May will be about Eyes

NEWSLETTER UPDATE – The Spring newsletter is due soon.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS – We are going to check what hospital equipment can be returned to SASH and put this in the newsletter. A GP Partner means the practice is their business, whilst salaried doctors are paid employees and locums are employed on contracts. There is a trend for newly qualified doctors to become a locum or go abroad. The volume of administration is massive and the NHS are looking at new software to reduce GP paperwork. Online services such as the online appointment system has helped ease paperwork. Recruitment was not successful to fill Dr. Morley's position. One new concept is having a higher qualified pharmacist to help with some of the work load with the prescribing etc., OHC are waiting to see if funding comes through. OHC are working to be accredited as a training practice. OHC to do an ‘open house’ for medical students to see if they would be interested in GP work, looking at different ways of training and attracting new recruits. OHC need to be very strict about patient boundary because of patient numbers. Ronnie Godfrey advised that complaints have gone down helped by the revised varied appointment system and successful flu clinic. We asked about the current situation of GPs at A&E and were advised there was some funding for shifts from 2 to 6:30 and 6:30 to 10:30 but the numbers presenting at hospital needing a GP service are much lower than expected so may not continue. When the administrator books a patient in, the GP will assess if they can deal with the patient before triage as triage can be slow. OHC patients presented a lot over the Christmas period at the Dene.

The next meeting is Thursday 30th March 2017 at 7:00pm.