SCMP -
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP
www.scmc.org.uk
email: stiffordclaysppg@yahoo.co.uk
Minutes of noon meeting held 2nd February 2015 at Stifford Clays Medical Practice
1) Present
Sue Garner (Practice Manager)
Alan Hudson (Chair)
Richard Smith (Vice Secretary)
Kevin Brice (Vice Chair)
Bill Little
Len Orpin
Glynis Page
Alan welcomed back Glynis, who had been unwell for some time.
2) Apologies
Noted from Viv Crouch, and Mike Medlock (Secretary).
3) Minutes for 5 January 2015 were ratified.
4) Constitution and structural relationship with Practice working group
a. Friends and Family Test
Sue Garner reported that the two sessions administering the
questionnaire by PPG volunteers had achieved a substantial number of
filled in forms. The great majority had been very positive, indicating that
they would recommend the Practice to others. She said that this was a
morale boost as staff and GPs had not expected such a positive
response.
Kevin suggested that we write to NHS England explaining the naivety of
the test, which was unreliable because the same anonymous person
could fill in cards on a number of occasions. Alan and Bill agreed to
raise this at the TCRG.
On Kevin’s suggestion we agreed to ask Mike to consider and report
back on the possibility of contacting the people on the email list with a
version of the Friends and Family Test which they could fill in and return
by email.
b. Begin review of priorities – see attached.
c. NAPP – we are now members.
5) Practice issues (Group 3)
a. Pedestrian access
Len has met Neil Anderson (Thurrock Council) who says that it is not
Borough land. Len is waiting for a price from him for the work of laying
a diagonal path.
6) Networking (Group 2)
Bill reported and handed out his notes:
a. TCRG meeting 20 Jan 2015
The meeting that Bill had attended with Alan had received
presentations on
 Weight Management – four tiers: Universal intervention (Public
Health); Lifestyle intervention (Public Health); Specialist services
(CCG); Surgery (commissioned by CCG)
 Care Act and Better Care Fund – no new money, starting with
existing budget but reducing
 Sexual Health – contraception, sexually transmitted infections,
reproduction services
 Therapy For You – progress report on range of psychological
interventions
 Walk in Centre update – following closure of existing service, four
GP hubs will provide weekend service – public consultation is to
be undertaken
b. Patient in Charge - Alan and Bill attended a workshop on 28 Jan.
c. Transforming Patient Care in Essex public engagement event on 11
Feb to report progress.
7) Preparation for AGM in April
Information awaited from Mike.
8) Social Involvement with Patients (Group 4)
Sue reported that no more books can be stored at the Practice for the time
being.
9) Building up the PPG (Group 1)
Nothing reported in Mike’s absence.
10) Restructuring Groups
Awaiting completion of priorities review.
11) Meeting dates for 2015 Some problems re Bank Holiday adjustments – Mike
to check for accuracy.
12) Apologies for next meeting from Kevin.
Appendix
PPG PRIORITIES REVIEW
Progess at 2 February 2015
We considered whether:
a) some of the items could be put on hold indefinitely, but reviewed at some later date
when appropriate;
b) some items were completed and did not require further work;
c) some items now required maintenance rather than trying to achieve a significant
change;
d) what level of priority should now be allocated to the remainder;
e) what new priorities, if any, should be added.
We got as far as 3. Practice Issues highest priority – improved pedestrian access.
Priorities
Preliminary comments on Further comments on
progress
progress
1. BUILDING UP THE PPG Coordinator: Mike Medlock with Viv Crouch (Viv now not
active because of ill-health)
Highest priority
Increase active membership
Achieve more diverse
membership
PPG posters
High priority
Inform/update patients with
regular leaflets, or bimonthly
bulletin, and more
information in Practice
letters
Improve website
Some basic funding
Lower priority
Little overall progress, new
members have been
recruited but members have
been lost owing to health
problems, other
commitments or other
reasons not specified.
Gender balance improved
and one Asian member
recruited, but this has not
been sustained (as with
active membership
generally).
Notice board in waiting
room, further efforts being
made to make it look more
interesting.
Continue as highest priority
Newsletter now established
twice or three times a year;
only bulk mailing by
Practice is in relation to
annual flu inoculation and
we have not asked for PPG
information to be included in
this so far.
Development of the website
has been ongoing, but
number of visits is small.
Position now seems to be
that Practice will consider
meeting cost of specific
items.
We felt that we should aim
for 3 newsletters each year,
with additional if needed for
a particular reason –
remains a high priority.
Continue as highest priority
Replace this priority with the
Notice Board as requiring
maintenance.
Requires maintenance.
Put on hold – could review
for a specific initiative.
PPG survey twice a year
Develop email consultative
group
Review meeting times
Two surveys were
undertaken in 2014 – one to
gain views on PPG and to
recruit new members.
Steady progress has been
made on building up emailing list (now over 50).
At present people on the list
are sent agendas and
minutes of meetings.
Some discussion of this and
AGM was held in the
evening, but few people
attended other than those
already involved in some
way.
PPG now has its own email
address.
No progress.
Maintenance – continue to
aim for twice a year, could
be increased if required.
This is happening on a
group to group basis with a
number of local PPGs and
via the CRG, but there is
only a small number of
active PPGs in Thurrock.
We are active members of
TCRG and we have
established a group to work
with the Coordinator on this.
Continue as a high priority,
particularly via Len Green
and TCRG.
Move to highest priority,
including working on how
best to use this larger
group.
Continue as lower priority –
we might consider a
summer evening meeting.
Independent PPG email
Completed.
address
Open meeting for patients to
See ‘Review meeting times’
discuss their concerns and
above.
get our information
Lowest priority
Lottery for funding;
No progress.
On hold.
Fund raising quizzes (health No progress.
On hold.
based).
2. NETWORKING Coordinator: Bill Little with Lorna Ling (Lorna has resigned because of
carer commitments) Note: this category was originally called ‘Networking with Groups’,
but ‘Groups’ was dropped in version in the Annual Report 2014, although no formal
decision was made on this.
High priority
Action groups (our own or
We have not been involved
We do not have the
join with others) in particular in action groups in particular resources for groups on
health areas, e.g. mental
health areas so far, but we
particular health areas, but
health, diabetes
have formed working
we could publicise groups
groups on engagement with concerned with mental
CRG, our constitution and
health, strokes, diabetes
structural relationship with
etc. Move to lower priority.
the Practice, and planning
the AGM; and we are
We should continue as a
involved with the
high priority involvement
Community Forum and the
with the Community Forum
Community Hub Planning
and the Community Hub.
Group.
Join National Association of
With funding from the
Done.
Patient Participation (NAPP) Practice we have applied for
membership in January
2015.
Network with other PPGs
ThurrockCommissioning
Reference Group (TCRG) –
maintain active participation
and consider additional
Maintenance – continue our
active membership.
meetings to discuss matters
arising from TCRG
Lower priority
Develop relationship with
Some contact has been
Move to high priority
Health Watch
established.
3. PRACTICE ISSUES Coordinator: Richard Smith with Alan Hudson
Highest priority
More structured connection
Substantial progress
Significant progress thanks
with Practice
achieved on this in last year to input from Susan Garner.
with GPs attending the
Continue as highest priority.
AGM and some PPG
meetings, the Practice
Manager now actively
engaged with the PPG on
regular basis, and the
Practice now meeting the
cost of the PPG newsletter
and contributing articles to
it.
Persuade Practice to consult Very little progress on this
We need to clarify areas on
PPG
so far.
which we would want to be
consulted. Continue as
highest priority.
PPG to actively influence
The last Patient Survey
Susan to explore whether
Practice Patient Survey
included a question
patient surveys have
requested by the PPG. The conformed with standard
PPG is now involved in the
design. Continue as
Practice’s implementation of highest priority for time
the Friends and Family
being.
Test.
Improved pedestrian access Thanks to the PPG’s
Continue as highest priority.
campaign and the support
of the Community Forum,
Thurrock Council widened
the pavement beside the
bus stop in front of the
Practice premises. We are
still working on trying to put
in place an additional
diagonal path to replace
hazardous informal path.
To be continued.