Lower Gornal Medical Practice
Minutes of Patient Panel Meeting Monday 13th October, 2014 at 6.30p.m.
Present:
David Gill (Chair), Christine Bate (Vice Chair), Elaine Lloyd, Helen Newton, Donella Bullas,
Lorna Stevens
Apologies:
Dr Suleman (GP), Lynn Britton (Practice Manager), Gerald Wood, Elizabeth Carrier
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Thanks to Elizabeth Carrier for writing minutes of the previous meeting, which had been
emailed to members. Copies were also available for members at the time of the meeting.
The minutes were accepted.
Matters Arising
The Chair said that the suggested meeting to formulate a plan to identify how members can
obtain information from patients to fulfil Practice requirements had not yet happened but this
may be delayed until early 2015, when Christine (Vice Chair) will be newly retired and able
to meet during daytimes.
Membership
This is an ongoing issue, as we are all aware of the need for the Group to be more
representative of the patient profile within the Practice.
Christine is to ask Julie Pitt to follow up the request for two representatives who currently
attend Ellowes Hall School.
Though we do not want the Group to become a meeting of people we already know, it was
acknowledged that the best way of recruiting members is to ask people personally. Members
agreed to consider potential members from contacts of their own. Before asking people to be
members, however, names should be brought before the Group for consideration.
At the last meeting Lynn (Practice Manager) had suggested having a “Virtual Membership”
so we could gain the views of people, such as young parents, without expecting them to
attend meetings. This was discussed further and generally agreed to be a good idea.
However, it was felt that since it had a specific role it should be a separate entity and be
called a “Consultation Group.” People serving on the Consultation Group would not,
therefore, be members of the PPG. David and Christine will discuss how to move this
forward at their meeting with Lyn in the New Year.
Survey
The meeting began by reviewing last year’s survey. It was felt that some, still relevant
questions, should remain the same to compare statistics with previous years. The draft
survey is attached for consideration. No date has yet been agreed for conducting the survey.
This will be decided after speaking to Lynn. It was suggested that members carrying out the
survey should wear badges so people know who we are and who we represent.
A.O.B.
A representative from a neighbouring PPG has contacted David to ask if members would
like to meet every so often to discuss issues of mutual concern. In the first instance, there
will be a meeting between the Chair and Vice Chairs of the local PPGs. Contact emails have
been exchanged. The first item for discussion is the possibility of several local PPGs putting
together a bid for a grant from the CCG. The initial suggestion is that the money could be
used to provide I.T. support at local libraries for people to access the online booking system.
The meeting felt that, at the same time, people could be shown the range of information on
the website of their own local medical practice. David is to contact Cicely Thomas to express
our approval of the idea for the bid and to put forward our suggestion relating to practice
websites.
At the end of the meeting members went down to the waiting room to look at the PPG notice
board, as some were unsure as to where it was. Some of the information is out of date and it
is on a board which also has information on sexual health. It was suggested that this might
put people off spending time looking at the board! Earlier in the meeting it had been
suggested that the PPG should be responsible for its own board and that we should not
expect busy practice staff to carry out that task on our behalf. David is to ask Lyn if the PPG
could have its own designated board within the main waiting room so that people can access
information as they are waiting for their appointment.
The Meeting finished at 7.30pm