HALTWHISTLE MEDICAL GROUP
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP MEETING
1st September 2014
4.30pm
Present: Lawrence Thompson, Vivienne Rendall, David Hardy, Dr Derek Thomson, Jane
Charteries, Adele Bracher, Katie Bracher
Apologies:
Judith Batey, Jane Makepeace, Cameron Makepeace, Helen Belger, Victor
Fleming. Sarah Speed.
Matters arising from last meetings minutes
With regards the Care Quality Commission inspection, the length of time the CQC
have to give notice to a practice before inspection has changed from 48hours to a
fortnight.
Patient Survey Results March 2014
We conducted a waiting room survey to find out what patients think of the
service we provide. This came back with some very positive comments and
praised our friendly and efficient staff. It did highlight that many of our patients
are aware of the services we provide, however It also shows us the areas we need
to work on to educate our patients to the services we do provide. We will use
the results of the patient survey to develop the 3 priorities of improvement the
PPG action plan.
Family & Friends Survey 2014
This survey is already being used for patients in hospitals. It asks patients if they
would recommend the service to their family and friends. The survey draws
feedback on positive and negative issues experienced by patients. This is being
developed for use in General Practice. We will be required to carry out this
survey within the Practice at some point this year.
3 Priorities of improvement
As a PPG group we are to identify 3 areas of improvement within the Practice
develop an action plan to make improvements. The members looked at the
results of Patient Survey conducted in March and discussed various areas and
have identify the 3 priority areas:1. Communication
We need to provide better access to information & services we
provide especially to patients who do not attend the practice
regularly. We discussed how we could address this. It was decided
the patient newsletter was a good way if disseminating
information to a wide range of patients however distribution was
an issue. The PPG members volunteered to deliver the newsletters
to homes in our catchment area. Also we are due a big mailshot
inviting patients to the flu clinics. We need to find out if it is
possible to add the newsletter to this mailshot. Other places we
could distribute newsletters to are Village Halls, Coffee Mornings,
Library & Partnership Office. The group also discussed whether the
GPs could attend meetings or give talks about the services we
provide at Youth clubs, Schools WI meetings etc.
2. Emergency
Contact
Numbers
for
Out
of
Hours
1
ACTION
PPG members
will help to
deliver
newsletters.
Staff to attend
WI meetings
etc to involve
community in
our services.
Members wondered if we could produce a small card with
numbers for OOHs contacts and prompts as to when to use these
services. These could be attached to the newsletter for distribution
to households.
3. Development
of
the
Newsletter
&
Website
Suggestions for development of the newsletter & website were:
a. Adding a comment section for patient feedback.
b. Personal portraits for the new GPs and also the Partners.
c. A ‘Day in the life of….. (our new GP Registrar will write this
for the Autumn newsletter) This will highlight what each
member of staffs’ role is within the practice.
d. Chronic Disease Section – listing symptoms, how this is
treated, and the follow up and enhanced services the
practice provides for the management of these patients.
e. Common Misconceptions – eg when to use ABXs, how long
a cough lasts etc.
f. Patients expectations – eg wait for an appt, how long the
wait is for a prescription etc.
New areas of work in Practice
High Risk Patients
As part of the new GP contract for 2014/15 the practice has been asked to
identify 2% of its population who are at the Highest risk of Admission to hospital.
(this equates to 100 patients for our practice.). Each patient will be allocated a
named GP. The GP will work with the patient and carers to develop a care plan..
The care plan will include details of ways that the patient can be treated to try to
prevent admission to hospital. This service provides continuity of care & patient
choice, however it was noted by Dr Thomson that the practice has always
provided this service to our patients.
Over 75s
Every patient over the age of 75 has now been allocated a named GP. They will
have been sent a letter informing them of this. Patients can still choose to see any
GP they choose.
Haltwhistle Hospital
The hospital is now up and running with 15 Beds. It is running to capacity most of
the time and is a major asset to the town providing a local service for local
people. There has been some very positive feedback from staff & patients alike.
The downstairs flats are making a big difference to the residence lives and have
been well received by all who live there.
The hospital now provides a Parkinsons clinic. Physio has returned to the hospital.
The minor injuries unit is now open after staff training and is receiving Injuries on
the whole and not minor ailments.
GPs from the practice provide a ward round daily in the morning and the Duty
doctor attends again late afternoon to address any issues that have arisen before
the practice closes for the evening.
Future Services in the pipe line are an Ophthalmology clinic to provide basic tests,
measurements & pre assessments. This will be run by Mr Strong the eye
consultant from Carlisle Infirmary. This service has not been confirmed yet.
2
Practice
to
collate
and
develop
document
with
useful
telephone
numbers,
website etc
Practice and
PPG
to
develop
newsletters
and
use
subject
headings
as
suggested and
add to PPG
meeting
agenda
to
discuss at each
meeting
Flu Clinics
The flu clinic dates are 11th & 25th October. Running from 8.30am-3.30pm.
Every eligible patient will receive a letter inviting them to attend. There will be
adverts placed in the Hexham Courant and flyers posted around the town, also a
message on all patients prescriptions. The clinics will cover Flu vacs, Shingles
(78&79 year olds), Child flu (2 3 & 4year olds) and Pneumovax. Teas and coffees
will be provided by the League of Friends and we will be having a Macmillan
Nurses raffle in memory of Denis Tallantyre.
Secondary Care Update
Hexham Hospital are looking to provide an elderly assessment unit in Ward 1.
This will be run by Dr Edmonds who will assess patients who may need an
admission, and hopefully stop the need for a journey to Cramlington hospitals
A&E. Ambulatory care is also be available at HGH.
CCQ: Patient Forum
Lawrence Thompson will not be attending the patient forum meeting in
September, and asked if anyone would like to attend on behalf of the practice.
Transport Greenhead/Gilsland/Longbyre
There is a meeting being held in Gilsland Village Hall 15th September with regards
the cuts to bus services in this area. Practice patients are finding it difficult to
attend appointments and have asked for a representative to attend from the
surgery. Jane Charteries asked if anyone from the PPG group would like to attend
with her.
Future meeting dates:
2 dates were decided
Monday 1st December 2014
Monday 2nd March 2015
AOB:
Next meeting 1st December 2014 4.30-5.30pm.
3
Jane c will
attend
meeting and
feedback
to
Practice and
PPG
about
problems