Trinity Medical Centre
213 Burrage Road
SE18 7JZ
Patient Participation Group meeting 14th November 2013,
Minutes
In attendance:
Dr M CoutinhoSenior GP
Donna WalkerPractice Manager
Stephen MannPatient group member
Deborah MannPatient group member
Margaret OrfordPatient group member
Apologies:
Jay Morton
Judith Coward
Janice Goldsmith
Maggie Rastall
Margaret Courtney
Virginia Gay
Patient survey/Appointment system
Donna informed the group of the outcome of the recent patient survey. On the whole the patients seem to be very happy with the service we are offering. The main area for concern was when the patients are asked to call back at 8.30am for a ‘book on the day appointment’ as there are no ‘pre-bookable appointments’ available. Donna explained they had discussed this in a recent staff meeting and had decided to change the appointment system to all ‘pre-booked’ appointments with emergency appointments at the end of each morning surgery and the beginning of each evening surgery. Donna said she would like the views of the group before initiating the change. All group members agreed this was a good idea as they had all experienced this problem in the past. They suggested ways of informing the patient’s prior to the change. The ideas were notices in the waiting room and at the main reception desk, hand-outs to each patient who came to the surgery and to the local pharmacy, notices in local churches etc and maybe a notice in the local newspaper.
Premises problems
Dr Coutinho explained about the problems we are having with NHS England regarding rent reimbursement for this building since Burrage Surgery moved out and our move to new purpose built premises in Burrage Place. Dr Coutino explained the situation with the present landlord and how we were going to have to move to one end of the building so the landlord could rent the other half as flats and the upheaval this would entail and also the situation with NHS England suggesting we move in with the former Burrage Surgery into the premises at the Royal Arsenal Medical Centre. Donna explained that this really wasn’t an option as it was too far to travel for our elderly and vulnerable patients especially as we had acquired approximately 500 of BurrageSurgery patients who had registered with us when they moved because of the distance, lack of parking and sheer inconvenience of the place. The group adamantly agreed that we need to stay in the locality.
Donna asked the group if they thought a petition signed by the patients regarding the premises problems was a good idea. The group all agreed this was a good place to start. It was suggested that maybe the local MP could get involved to help the situation and the petition if successful should be presented to him at one of his surgeries. Dr Coutinho and Donna both agreed this was a good idea and said they would start the petition within the next week or two.
Website – Facebook/Twitter
One of the group suggested updating out website regularly and using it to make announcements and also think about using Facebook and Twitter for the same. Also email is a good way of communicating with the patients. We would need to advertise this and start collecting more patients’ email addresses. It was suggested we put a notice in the waiting area and at the main reception desk asking for patient’s email addresses. Also to advise the patients if they have changed their mobile telephone numbers to let us know. Donna informed the group that the practice now has a generic email address and this could be used for patients repeat prescription requests in the near future.
Waiting Area
Donna asked if the group approved of the improvement s in the waiting area. All agreed it was much better but the posters should be organised differently i.e. practice relative notices on one board. It was suggested displaying photographs of the Trinity team and their positions so patients would know who is responsible for what. Also, this is a good way to introduce the other GP’s as a lot of patients think that Dr Coutinho is the only GP here.
Chair person.
Donna asked if any of the group members present were willing to take on the position of Chair Person. Mr Stephen Mann said he would give it a go. Dr Coutinho, Donna and other group members agreed this was a good idea. Donna said she would be in touch with Stephen to discuss this further.