Minutes of The Smithy Surgery PPG Meeting
26th November 2015 5.30pm @The Smithy Surgery
Attendees: Kay Phillips, Jeff Barlow, Pat Ralls, Barrie Adams, Mai Spencer, Mary Fitton, Sharon France
Apologies: Pat Castle, Jan Wright, David Collins, Mary Jessop, Sharon Battersby
Alzheimer’s Society: Talk by Kay Maher
Kay has a dual role in the Alzheimer’s Society as a dementia support worker and a dementia support manager.
She works across Stockport, Tameside, Oldham and Rochdale.
Currently there are 7,244 people in Tameside and Glossop with dementia. In 30years, the number with dementia
is expected to double. There are 5,694 people in Tameside and Glossop who have dementia but who have not
been formally diagnosed. 1 in 3 people who die after the age of 65years have dementia. T&G has an above
average rate of preventable dementia, caused predominantly by unhealthy lifestyle behaviours – the local rate of
vascular dementia (42%) is more than double the national average (20%).
Kay’s role is to encourage people to find help and information about dementia. She does home visits and works
with dementia groups who meet in public places such as cafes. Currently, Glossop dementia patients can join in
Tameside activities as funding is not yet specific to Derbyshire or Tameside.
Kay is also involved in the “Crisp” programme which is a 5 week course of workshops for carers.
The Alzheimer’s Society has a Dementia Friends programme which trains volunteers to understand dementia (a
one day course to become a Dementia Friends Champion). A Champion can then teach others about dementia (a
1 hour session to become a Dementia Friend).
There are more volunteers than staff working for the Alzheimer’s Society in Tameside.
GP Practices can refer patients to the Alzheimer’s Society.
If the PPG or Practice wish to hold a 1 hour training for PPG members or Practice staff to become Dementia
Friends, then Kay would be happy to facilitate this.
1. Minutes of the October Meeting
Minutes accepted
2. Matters Arising
All outstanding matters were agenda’d as substantive items
3. Standing Items
 GP and Practice Update
The new pharmacist will begin work at the Smithy next week. He will work 2 sessions a week.
Electronic prescribing will be introduced the week after next. Prescriptions will go electronically to the
chemist rather than be handled in paper format. Patients will need to nominate the pharmacy they wish
to use and sign up to use electronic prescribing. Sharon F will put up posters in the surgery to inform
patients. There are also posters in the pharmacies.
CQC Inspection The practice will have its second CQC inspection on 9th December.
Action:
 Mai will attend the feedback session at the end of the day
 Mary F to email PPG members about their availability on the day to talk to CQC
 Mary F to let Sharon F have the June & September minutes of the PPG
 Mary F to let Sharon have the report and findings of the latest Patient Survey done by the PPG
 Mary F to ensure the Newsletter is completed by Dec 9th and on display
 Mary F to let Sharon have the amended copy of the Welcome Pack Practice leaflet
 Mai to look through past minutes and list/categorise PPG activities for the PPG file. At the same
time to list noticeboard displays for the PCQS
 Newsletter
Barrie and Mary F have compiled this and it will be ready next week
 Hyde Patient Locality Group
The Chair of the group had attended the GP Locality Group meeting
Each participating PPG gave a resume of their activities
There was a brief talk from a Thornley House patient who has completed a course to deliver Dementia
Friends training
4. Patient Record Online Access Pilot
The practice has talked about this and agreed that this can go ahead in January
Action:
 Agenda for January
5
Patient Welcome Pack
Sharon F had checked the list of dentists and found that the information was incorrect.
The Summary Care record opt out form is deemed to have sufficient information about what a summary
care record is.
Revision of non NHS charges is under discussion
 Sharon F will include correct information about dentists in the pack and put up a poster in the
waiting room about dentists
 Sharon F will include non NHS charges in the pack
 Mary F (as above) to amend the Welcome practice leaflet re times etc.
6. PCQS
The Practice had discussed the PPG suggestions for help and noted that all suggestions are appropriate
 Agenda a PPG to do list for December meeting
7. AOB
Glossop Patient Locality Group had asked whether the minutes of the Patient Locality Group meetings
could be put on practice websites? Would patients know what the Locality Group is?
Mary F. Suggested that an explanation about the Locality Groups could be put on the PPG page of The
Smithy website together with information about how minutes can be obtained.
 Mary F to put a paragraph on the website
Lambgates have a Facebook page for their PPG.
 Agenda for December
The Campaign Board needs changing in the New Year
 Agenda for December
The AGM will take place at the February meeting and preparations for this can be made during the
January meeting. Mai is definitely resigning as Chair. Mary F suggested a rotating chair if there is no
volunteer for a permanent post.
 Mai will write a report for the AGM and suggest activities the PPG might undertake for next year,
2016
 Mary F to notify members of the PPG of Mai’s intent to resign and ask for expressions of interest
in the post of Chair
 Agenda the Patient Survey for January
Future Meetings in 2016 will take place on the last Thursday of every month at 5.30pm
Next Meeting Thursday December 17th 5.30pm@Smithy Surgery