Station Drive Surgery Patient Group
Minutes of the Meeting of the Station Drive Patient Group
8th January 2015
ATTENDEES:
Ruth Thomas
Barbara Harris
Ann Hughes
Gill George
Janice Forsyth
Betty Meredith
Peter Gillard
Jill Swift
David Partridge
Dori Ericsson
Kate Best
John Ericsson
Barbara Marshall
Richard Summers
Susan Summers
Jean Nicholls
Chris Jeffery
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Peter Gillard opened the meeting and introduced himself both as Chair of the
Patient Group, but also patient representative to the Shropshire CCG.
He asked attendees to provide e mail addresses, and he will forward
Shropshire Patient Group Notices. People can opt out of receiving these by
letting him know.
Peter provided Notice of the next meeting (Thursday 2nd April) being the
Groups AGM and asked for offers of help and for any people wishing to stand
to make themselves known.
Peter has been asked to represent the Patients Group as a Trustee of the
Patient Fund (a fund to collect and distribute monetary gifts to the surgery)
The Group has voted on allocations from this fund and the accounts are
audited. The meeting approved this.
2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:
Agreed. No matters arising in addition to those to be covered during the
course of this meeting.
3. FUTURE FIT UPDATE: Survey
Peter discussed the survey conducted during the Practices Flu Day
Approximately 70% of the survey forms distributed were returned providing
useful results for the targeted population (flu vaccine recipients) these people
as over 65’s or those with chronic illness providing a fair representation of the
secondary care user demographic.
The results are as attached Peter drawing attention to the marked difference
in how easy it was seen to travel to RSH as opposed to PRH with nearly 13%
commenting that travel to PRH would be “too difficult” This survey was the
first for a large population sample and will be shared both with the CCG and
other Patient Groups who could perhaps conduct similar surveys in other
areas. A large number of comments were added from the meeting with;
Difficulty particularly in the winter months (more darkness worse weather)
Difficulty with Public Transport, particularly for early or later appointment times
Difficulty with delays and poor connections in public transport (waiting in the
cold)
The Group confirmed how important Access is to patients particularly from
rural areas, Peter contrasted this with the clinicians perceptions on clinical
performance being very important. The patient views are important to Future
Fit and Peter will use this as an example in Future Fit Discussions.
The Group felt that more joined up discussion with Transport Services and
Social Services would be helpful to explore the impact of location and the
effects on patients not serviced by hospital (NHS funded) transport.
The meeting noted how access may lead to more patients using Hereford and
the potential destabilising effects of this in the Shropshire Health Economy.
3. FUTURE FIT UPDATE: Update on Programme
Peter discussed the ongoing programme. There had been no further meetings
since the last Patient Group meeting butone is anticipated in 2 weeks. As last
meetings minutes the key decision to be taken at this meeting is the criteria
for deciding on the Emergency Centre (EC) and Diagnostic and Treatment
Centre (DTC) location.
The evaluation panel (comprising 17 people with Peter as the Shropshire
Patient representative) will not be responsible for determining the location of
or number of Urgent Care Centres (UCC).
Peter provided a reminder of the functions of the EC and DTC and provided
some detail to discuss how services may look in the future.
The Group discussed the importance of the UCC to Ludlow and in particular
to the continuing services which would be available (or not) in the Community
Hospital. Gill George invited interested members to attend a meeting with the
local MP which had been called to discuss Ludlow Hospital, ambulance
services and other local concerns.
The particular issues around the expense of Ludlow Hospital (with a leased
building) and the need to continue to provide urgent minor injuries care and
improved local access to diagnostics (X Ray and Ultrasound etc) was clear.
The Group thanked Peter for his work and remain keen to help provide a
patient perspective and voice in the evolving debate.
4. SURGERY ISSUES:
a) Surgery Building: David Partridge announced that the approval had been
given for and planning permission obtained for the development of the surgery
to provide an additional 3 consulting rooms and also allow re-siting of the
patient waiting area with improved lighting and provision for patients. Work is
anticipated to start within 2 weeks with a view to having the substantial part of
the building completed in March.
Patient input is valuable particularly with regard to the design of the waiting
room and any suggestion would be most welcome. Improved lighting, more
modern reception desk and improved waiting environment are key.
David apologised for the inevitable disruption that the building work will cause
and in particular restriction to parking.
b) Equipment: The Doppler machine and Heart monitor are now in service.
Nurse feedback on the Doppler was 2 words “absolutely brilliant” . A number
of patients in the Group had heard of patients being assessed locally saving
hospital appointments and journeys.
c) The Flu campaign had been very successful with 2400 immunisations,
patients not immunised could be prescribed flu jabs. David mentioned that
despite a higher than average number of flu cases across the West Midlands
the local high uptake had provided a beneficial effect, a nasty respiratory virus
has been prevalent but high immunisation rates have certainly helped.
The surgery is also keen to promote shingles vaccination to the eligible age
groups and this is ongoing.
d) Despite well publicised winter pressures the surgeries Duty Doctor system
is working well with good GP access and all urgent calls being returned on the
day and often within hours. David discussed on line access and the reduction
in waiting time and telephone calls where people book appointments or order
repeat prescriptions on line. On line access is being extended to allow
patients to view their medical records (coded data and diagnosis, medication
and results) feedback from patients on this would be useful.
e) CQC, the Carte Quality Commission are setting new standards for infection
control and in parallel with the waiting room improvements the surgery will
make improvements to the waiting area to reduce potential infection sources.
More detail will be available in the near future.
f) Patient feedback:
A volunteer to pilot on line registration (to help the surgery create a guide for
the information screen was found)
Replacing light bulbs: it was noted that again some bulbs were not working
and attending to this would be helpful
A thanks was offered to the surgery for patient care and attention.
A further thanks was offered for attention from one of the doctors in training,
the patient noting the diligence and the extra time afforded to training doctors
had led to a much improved patient experience.
David Partridge thanked the meeting for these comments and certainly we
would welcome all feedback positive and negative as the surgery was
committed to trying to move forward and involve patients as much as possible
in their own care. NHS Choices provides a forum for feedback (a bit like Trip
Adviser and any comments are welcome (www.nhs.uk). There is also a
patient friends and family scheme and the surgery will post “results” from this
monthly.
5. SHROPSHIRE PATIENT GROUP REPORT:
Peter Gillard summarised the state of the Shropshire Patient Group which
now is healthy. Weekly e mails about health and local initiatives are circulated
and Station Drive Group Members can receive these. Peter continues to
represent Shropshire Patients in the Future Fit evaluation.
6. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday, 2 April 2015 This the AGM
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Peter noted that he had represented the Patient Group at Station Drive at
meetings of Ludlow Town Council and the Local Authority Ludlow and Clee.
Meeting closed at 20:30 hours.