Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meeting

Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meeting

Held Strensall Health Care Centre: 6th October 2014, 6.30pm

Present:

Dr Lesley Welch, GP Partner

Dr Frances Adams, GP Partner (and Research Lead)

Joanne Rowe, Practice Manager

Lesley Barker, Branch Manager, Stamford Bridge and Dunnington

Emily Broadbent, PA to Practice Manager

Mrs Janet Webb

Mr John Yates

Mr Arthur Moore

Cllr. Sian Wiseman (PPG Chair)

Mr David Garbutt

Mr David Vaughan

Mr Paul Woolley

Joanne Rowe, Practice Manager, opened the meeting, welcomed the attendees and brief re-introductions to the practice staff were made. Joanne also introduced Dr Fran Adams and explained that her presence on the evening would be to discuss the practice’s involvement in research projects as per the group’s request.

1)  Research

Dr Adams begun by asking the group what they would be most interested to learn about research within the practice. It was explained that MyHealth had been involved in various research projects for around 12 years and that we are now the highest recruiting practice in the area. The studies the practice are involved in provide a variety of opportunities for patients and there are usually 10-12 various studies across a year.

Question was asked whether the studies are well advertised, to which Dr Adams explained that the practice tries to keep patients as up to date as possible, with Dr Welch adding that the studies are usually targeted at a specific patient group.

Dr Adams explained that recruitment for each study is different, dependent on which patient group they are targeting. An example used was the early arthritis study where clinicians identify those patients they feel would benefit.

The target of the studies is as varied as possible to ensure it is not the same ailments/chronic conditions & diseases which are focussed on. These vary every couple of years.

Question was asked whether a particular age group is targeted – Dr Adams explained that the practice tries to target all age groups and also tries to target all areas of health, for example, the ‘Casper Study’ which is concerned with mental health.

Dr Adams explained that the University of York is also involved with many of these studies and due to MyHealth’s reputation, we are often asked to be pilot centres for new studies.

Data is also collected for the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), for example, flu swabs, results from which is used to guide the following years flu vaccination campaigns.

Question was asked whether the practice ever gains the feedback or results of clinical trials. Dr Adams explained that the practice does always ask for the feedback but this can often take years to be produced.

Dr Adams also explained that the practice’s research activity is detailed on the MyHealth website and within the patient newsletters, however, it was agreed that a research notice board would be a good idea.

Any data used is anonymised.

2)  Practice Champions

Members of the PPG were first shown a video made by the organisation ‘Altogether Better’, outlining the role of Practice Champions, working examples and how Practice Champions had benefitted communities in other areas.

The MyHealth Partners and Joanne have visited a practice in another area who have introduced the role of Practice Champions and Sian Wiseman and Joanne have since met to discuss the ways in which the MyHealth community could benefit from the introduction of Practice Champions.

Question was raised where the volunteers/organisers would be recruited from – one example of where could be the Church organisations.

It was pointed out that we want to complement/aid the work already being done by other organisations in this area, rather than duplicating this or ‘reinventing the wheel’.

A point was raised about the problem of obesity in the wider health community and it was suggested that there doesn’t currently seem to be a lot being done about this problem and it in fact appears to be worsening.

Dr Welch pointed out there are already very well established organisations in place for helping people with weight management, for example, WeightWatchers and Slimming World. She suggested that it would be a waste of a valuable resource (i.e. nursing time and appointments)to replicate the work done by these when they are already doing a great job.

Sian Wiseman pointed out that the idea of Practice Champions and community support was already top of the Public Health agenda within the wider health community. She informed the group about HealthWatch, who are an existing influence/resource and that any work the practice did should compliment what they are doing rather than replicating.

Dr Welch highlighted to the group the fact that patient education is a huge factor in disease management but this education does not necessarily need to come from GPs, it could be from other educational groups.

It was agreed that a good starting point for further investigating the introduction of Practice Champions would be to invite Sian Balsom from HealthWatch along to the next PPG Meeting to share their thoughts/ideas and explain what they are already doing in this area. This would help us understand what is already out there for patients. Joanne to contact SB.

It was also agreed that two great starting areas of focus for the Practice Champions would be diabetes and childhood asthma. Both of these being self-managed and so increased support, knowledge and education could only help these groups.

3)  Walk In Clinic Update

The group were first asked whether anyone had utilised the Walk In Clinic at Strensall. There were a number of ‘yes’ responses and comment was made that it was an ‘excellent’ service.

It was explained to the group that from a practice perspective the Walk In Clinic seems to be working very well, with patients, Doctors and staff seeming happy and an average waiting time of around 20 minutes which is particularly good for an ‘urgent’ service.

As we head into the winter months, the workload could become unpredictable. The pilot needs to be analysed before a decision is made as to whether this service could be rolled out at Stamford Bridge.

4)  Care Plans for Patients

The introduction of personalised Care Plans for patients is part of a Government scheme aimed at the top 2% of the practice population who are at most risk of hospital admission which, at MyHealth, equates to around 350 patients.

These Care Plans are drawn up in consultation with patients/carers in order to help minimise this risk of hospital admission, with localised care in place and details of who the patient/carers should contact and what they should do should they become unwell.

A new nurse role has been introduced at MyHealth (a Community Care Co-ordinator) which is targeted specifically at those patients being discharged from hospital, managing and supporting the most vulnerable of patients and also maintaining Care Plans. This role is not a common one across the practices in York.

Sian Wiseman suggested this could only be a good addition to the team as they would help patients escape the vicious circle of hospital admission/discharge and they would also be excellent for patient education.

One member of the group raised concern with the ‘Named GP for over 75s’ initiative, as they felt sceptical about this, suggesting it was largely political but in principle a good idea.

Dr Welch explained that this is largely a paper exercise and patients are still free to see whichever GP they wish. She also explained that by 2018, all patients, regardless of age will have a named GP.

5)  Strensall Development

It was explained that there is nothing further to report with the redevelopment at Strensall as architect plans had been drawn up but these need further discussion.

6)  Emis Appointments and online access to your clinical record

MyHealth went ‘live’ with a brand new appointments system on Monday 6th October and this now means that patients will no longer need two separate passwords for booking appointments and ordering medications.

It was explained that the online availability of aspects of a patients clinical record, for example, test results and vaccination history would be available shortly.

Question was initially raised around recent test results being available for patients to see as this could cause concern to those who are not aware of how to interpret results. Dr Welch then explained that any results made available to patients would always have been seen/interpreted by a Doctor before being made available and an instruction would always be attached, e.g. normal, or make a telephone appointment.

Question was also raised about the online security with this type of information being made available – Joanne explained that the NHS network, the ‘N3’ is as secure as it gets. Patient confidentiality and data protection is paramount and the NHS cannot take any chances in this regard.

One member of the group also raised concern regarding particular types of results, for example, cholesterol results, explaining that a ‘normal’ result includes a huge range and in fact tells the patient nothing. He explained that it is often useful to know the actual figure and that the results need to stipulate whether the level is ‘normal’ for that particular individual. It was then explained that staff should always be able to give a patient particular figures if they are asked.

7)  AOB

Diabetic Information – one member of the group raised concern regarding incorrect information re. driving regulations for diabetics been given by the nursing team. Joanne explained that this confusion/conflicting information had actually come from a training course attended by one of the Partners and two senior nurses. All three members of the team had left the course under the same impression. This has since been clarified.

It was also mentioned that some members of the nursing team appear to use ‘scare tactics’ when advising patients on their lifestyle. It was pointed out that this does not work and is not appreciated. This will be fed back to the nursing team.

Incoming calls – question was raised about using the 1470 prefix when Doctors are dialling patients and whether any other patients had reported problems in these calls coming through. Joanne to contact other York practices to see whether their patients have reported any issues. Post Meeting Note: this has since been confirmed as being a trust wide/hospital issue and should now be resolved.

Flaxton repeat prescriptions – concern regarding repeat prescriptions was raised by one member of the group who resides in Flaxton. She reported regular, multiple delays in medications being delivered to the antique shop and pointed out that as they are repeat prescriptions, there shouldn’t be an issue.

Dr Welch explained that requested repeats can extend over into another day if, for example, there is a query on the prescription and the particular Doctor is not in the practice on that day. There can also be other reasons for a delay, for example, certain medications not being available from drug companies or medications needing review.

Joanne the explained that the practice would need details of specific on-going issues with repeat prescriptions in order to address these and learn from them.

It was also explained that patients do not always need to visit the surgery to have medications reviewed, this can also be done within a telephone appointment.

Pharmacy choice over medications – one member of the group pointed out that the quality of information/guidance enclosed within medications can vary vastly, dependent on which company the pharmacy purchases from.

It was then explained that as pharmacies are independent organisations, they are free to purchase from whichever company they wish and the practice has no control over this.

Meeting closed at 19.45.

Scheduled date of next meeting: Tentatively confirmed as Thursday 15 January 2015, 6pm at Stamford Bridge.