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CQC Rating Good
PPG: Meeting Minutes 10th September 2024
Date: 10th September 2024 - 2pm
Members/apologies
| Attend Y/N/A | Attendee Name |
|---|---|
| Y | David Blount - Chair |
| Y | Arthur Laxton - Vice Chair |
| Y | Christine Walter - Secretary |
| A | Claire Conway-Wright - Westbank |
| Y | Alex Cook - Westbank |
| A | Cameron Cater - Westbank |
| N | Amanda Kohn - WHLC |
| A | Faith Wood |
| Y | Jan Caig |
| A | Sadie Clarke |
| Y (Part meeting) | Anette Grahns-Doan |
| A | Sheelagh King |
| Y | Nigel Davey |
| Y | A member of the Virtual Members Group |
| Y | Dr Toh Wong |
Welcome
David welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced two members of the Virtual Members Group who had come along following the PPG’s effort to recruit new members/input.
Apologies
Claire, Cameron, Faith, Sadie and Sheelagh were all unable to attend. Sadie had informed David that she would be unable to attend future meetings as she now had a conflicting work meeting every Tuesday.
However, she still wished to remain part of the group and would help with any publicity tasks when possible.
Minutes of last meeting
Approve Minutes of the meeting held on 9th July 2024: The Minutes of the last meeting were Agreed. David thanked Anette for producing them in Christine’s absence.
Matters arising from the Minutes
- Patient Transport: Awaiting update from Amanda. Carried forward.
- NHS App session & Guide: Awaiting update from Cam. Carried forward.
- Will Farmer attendance at a future meeting: Alex advised that as Will works for the surgery only on Thursdays he would not be able to attend a PPG meeting. However, an invitation to Will to attend the next AGM would be considered. Item closed.
- Menopause cafe: David had replied to one email enquiry indicating that effort was still being made to get it up and running. Input was needed from Amanda. Carried over.
Practice Updates
Dr Wong explained the background to the recent media reports of the BMA asking GPs to take ‘industrial action’. Although the Practice is supporting the action, none of the measures being taken will lead to patients of Westbank Practice seeing a difference in service.
Use of the NHS App
It was recognised that many patients are unable to use the App - no access to technology/don’t know how. Although efforts were being made to set up suitable training sessions they would not enable everyone to use online systems. It was also recognised that demographically society was at a cross-over point with the younger generations more used to using online services. The Westbank Practice recognised this and people without mobile phones were contacted by landline or letter and invited to make appointment bookings by telephone.
Practice Nurse appointments, via existing Westbank Booking System
Question had been asked by Nigel. Alex explained that this had been looked at and due to the wide variety of tasks carried out by the paramedics and the nursing team, each task with its own time requirement, it was too complicated to implement on the system.
Anette related an experience of a patient whose appointment was delayed by 45 minutes and wondering if they had been ‘forgotten’. She asked if the screen based self-booking in system could warn when appointments were running late. Alex said that Reception staff do not always know when delays start to occur. However, she would ask Cam if a waiting time indication could be given based on the number of patients indicated ahead of the person booking in using the self-booking in screen.
Restriction on booster jab bookings
Question had been raised by a PPG Virtual member. Invitations were currently being sent out for combined Covid and flu jab clinics on 5th October in Exminster and 12th October in Starcross. If patients were unable to make either of those dates, they would be advised to go up to the Greendale mass vaccination centre or to a pharmacy.
There had been 100 ‘no shows’ last year resulting in unused vaccine and nursing resources.
Alex advised that after dividing the staff room space a new clinical room had been set up at Exminster and was operational.
AC/TW
Canvassing patients in the surgery waiting room in an effort to get more input for the PPG:
it was Agreed that we should repeat the exercise. Arthur and Christine would attend Exminster and Jan and David would attend Starcross between 2 and 4pm on 25th September. Christine said that some sort of signage to give identity would be helpful. It was something that had been previously discussed. Alex to contact Sadie to see what could be done.
Creation of Virtual PPG
David said it seemed to be working well as evidenced by two members joining us today and the question on vaccinations above. David confirmed the process for virtual member sign up. Requests to participate were given to Cam who sent an acknowledgement and then passed details to David. David then sends meeting agendas and copies of Minutes to those members. Their identity remains anonymous to the wider PPG unless they choose to attend a meeting. However, their names will not be revealed in the Minutes and they will be referred to as Virtual Members.
Support of other PPGs
David had received no contact from anyone. David to follow up with Claire who was intending to contact local Practice Managers to propose a meeting in an effort to re-establish regular contact for sharing of ideas/experiences.
News from Westbank PLC
No report.
PPG Updates in Village Newsletters
Several topics had been covered in the September editions. At present it was felt there were no items to put forward for the October editions.
The future of the NHS in England Health Foundation - webinar
Whilst the content and outcome were of interest it was felt that this was not something the PPG could influence. Item closed.
Discuss ideas for topics that we may wish to feature/include at future meetings – Healthwatch
The role of Healthwatch was not understood. Christine had looked at their website and questioned any overlap with other bodies eg. CQC. It was not clear to whom they were accountable, how they were funded and how they might link in with PPGs. David to follow up with Amanda to see if a briefing/presentation could be arranged.
Correspondence
David had received three items of correspondence from virtual members that had been dealt with during the meeting.
AOB
Christine questioned whether meetings could be held in a different room due to the noise from the adjacent children’s space which was separated only by a folding wooden screen. It was suggested that we try moving the tables and seating away from the screen as far as possible and arrange the tables closer together.
Nigel said he would like to become a regular member of the meetings and was duly welcomed.
Another member shared her experience of Talkworks after picking up a leaflet in Starcross surgery. She found it a ‘most helpful thing’ and a ‘very good service’.
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday November 12th 2024 2.00pm Westbank HL&LC