PATIENT GROUP MEETING HELD SATURDAY 13/7/13 In attendance Jacqueline Elder Susan McCauley Eric Micaleff Dr Angus Dowsett Shirley Ford Margaret Bryant Apologies received from Karen Taylor-Russell and Brian Anderton 1. SF welcomed everyone to the meeting and giving up time on the hottest day of the year. 2. As BA was unable to attend the meeting un-expectedly there was no report from STPPI group 3. The group had identified a need for Carer’s support and at the meeting in January had set this as the project for this current year. Following this meeting, SF was to meet with KTR and start work on an identification and support plan. SF was in possession of a document entitled “Supporting Carers” KTR had a draft copy of the “ Carer’s Pack” SF attended a meeting where it was established the South Tyneside Carer’s service were in fact spearheading the same idea but had already produced a pathway and documents. SF signed up to this project on behalf of the Practice The Carer’s service attended a team meeting on 11/7/13 and gave a presentation on Carer’s awareness The Practice has identified staff members to be Carer’s lead During New Patient Checks, NHS health checks and Chronic disease reviews, patients will routinely be asked if they are a carer or if they have a carer. Readcodes have been added into the appropriate templates and from this the practice will be able to establish a Carer’s register. If the patient is/has a carer they will be given a leaflet to direct them to CAST (Carer’s association in South Tyneside) The Practice now has the Carer’s pack and this will be given out along side the CAST leaflet as CAST will be able to support the carer, signpost them to the appropriate organisation and help the Carer complete the Carer’s pack. Once a register of Carers is established the Practice will be offering health checks to Carer’s to ensure their needs are met. 4. AOB SF was able to update the group on Automatic sign in and Audio display in reception. This has been ordered and practice awaiting installation EM would like it recorded that in the last 12 months the reception area has become much more patient friendly and he hoped this would not change. JE would like the seating to remain in the same format, with some high chairs for infirm patients. There was a discussion around the sighting of the TV and sign in screen. It was agreed that the practice would publicise the new system well before installation, both in Newsletter and on notice board SF asked the group if they had any new ideas on how to prevent A&E misuse. Continue Choose and well Letters Continue notices in waiting area re costs Wondered could patients be charged for attending inappropriately 5. Next meeting to be held near end of October to set the Annual Patient Questionnaire