Feb. 26, 2024
Agenda
- Welcome & Introductions
- Practice Updates
- Matters Arising
- Planned Future Activities
- AOB
Minutes
Present: GP Partner – Dr Pop, Practice Manager – Laura Grosate, PPG members – Tony, Jane, John & Sharon
Apologies: Tina (patient)
Welcome and Introduction
- Laura welcomed all attendees and introduced new members.
Review of Previous Meeting Minutes
- The minutes from previous meeting held on the 9th November 2023 were reviewed and approved without any amendments.
Practice Updates
- Recruitment
Sadly our part time Physician Associate Sarah has resigned form the surgery due to personal reasons. Recruitment process ongoing. Adverts were placed in December and several suitable candidates attended interviews. The practice are hopeful we will have a relacement for Sarah as soon as possible. PPG to be updated as soon as we are successful in recruiting the right candidate.
- Appointments.
General discussion about the effectiveness of the new appointment system, which is still proving to be successful. However, with the increased demand during the winter season, more patients are seeking same-day appointments for urgent matters rather than routine ones. As a result, the surgery are closing the appointment forms earlier in the day to manage the increased demand safely and efficiently.
Currently we have one Physician Associate and one very experience Advanced Clinical Practitioner, both working full time. Both of these Healthcare Professionals have been invaluable in supporting our patients. Many conditions and aliments do not necessarily need to be seen by a doctor, therefore our additional healthcare professions have been able to offer more appointments to the public so that the doctors can have more appointments/time available for patients with more complex needs.
- Pharmacy First
General discussion regarding the NHS push for Pharmacy First. This is a new initiative and was launched at the end of January. There are now 7 conditions a pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics for without the need of a patient visiting a GP surgery. The 7 condition include:
· Impetigo (for ages 1 year and over)
· Infected insect bites ( for ages 1 year and over)
· Shingles (for ages 18and over)
· Sinusitis (for ages 12 and over)
· Sore throat 9for ages 5 and over)
· Uncomplicated urinary Tract Infections in women (for ages 16-64)
· Acute otitis media (for ages 1-17 years)
This is a very new system therefore it is not quite as streamlined as it could be. Once the local pharmacies have a robust system in place the surgery will actively encourage this service. For the meantime to avoid frustration or a more lengthy patient experience we will continue to treat patients with these conditions in practice.
Matters Arising
PPG questions from patients
- Cancelled appointment query
· Where possible, a text will be sent to a patient informing them of cancelled appointment. A self-booking link will then get sent for the patient to choose another appointment that is suitable for them.
· Self-booking link will only be active for x 7 days
· Patients with no mobile or elderly/more complex patients will get called by reception
- Well Woman and Well Man
· This is not something we offer in the practice but we currently offer NHS Health Checks until the end of March 2023.
· Patient aged between 40 – 74 and who do not have any of the following pre-existing conditions are eligible for the check;
o heart disease
o chronic kidney disease
o diabetes
o high blood pressure (hypertension)
o atrial fibrillation
o transient ischaemic attack
o inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
o heart failure
o peripheral arterial disease
o stroke
o currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
o previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
· Appointments available on a Monday to book
- Routine appointments
· The practice do not routinely invite patients in for routine blood test.
· Patient to contact the surgery directly and ask for blood test to be actioned.
Planning Future Activities
- NHS APP
By utilizing the NHS app, patients gain access to their complete medical records, starting from the time they set up their access. This includes the ability to request medical appointments, manage medication, view blood results, and access any relevant documents within their medical history.
Recognising the need for assistance, the surgery is eager to facilitate patient access to the NHS app. However, the process of creating an account may not be straightforward for everyone. Providing practical support to patients would benefit both the patient and the surgery.
Practice manager would be keen for the PPG to help organise a session at a community centre or similar venue where members are able to assist patients in logging in and setting up their accounts on the NHS app.
AOB
- Practice Leaflet
The surgery and PPG are eager to create a practice brochure. However, due to time constraints, this topic wasn't addressed in the meeting. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to coordinate, design, and strategise the brochure. It was agreed that the presence of a GP partner is unnecessary for this meeting
- PPG consent to email sharing.
The group has reached a consensus that email addresses can be exchanged among the PPG members to facilitate discussion and information sharing.
- New Member PPG members
Agreed that all new potential PPG members to apply through the website and be invited by the practice manager before attending any meetings.
- Publishing any content.
It is understood that any content related to the practice must receive approval from the practice manager prior to publication.
Following actions agreed for follow up at next meeting
- Schedule a meeting to discuss practice leaflet in more detail
- Jane kindly offered to look into a venue to go along and promote the NHS App
- Laura to share email addresses amongst the group