Meeting Report – 17th March 2016

MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES – Repair to the bollards is still to be carried out by Surrey County Council. We asked for PPG information to be put on the waiting room screens which should have now been added. From 1st April OHC's contractual obligation is for patients to have access to test results online but they have concerns about this. Concern is how the results are interpreted and that the administrator's name is revealed.

PPG SESSIONS IN WAITING ROOM – After having done a couple of sessions in the waiting room it was discovered that a lot of patients are still unaware of the PPG. The PPG are going to do further sessions and think of other ways to raise awareness.

NEW RECEPTION MANAGER - Vanessa, the new reception manager will start on the 31st March working 25 hours a week. Vanessa's role will be working on and managing the reception team and helping with complaints.

FUNDRAISING SUB GROUP – A patient who is a fund raiser within the NHS has contacted and he is willing to give advice. We asked if OHC would be supportive to setting up a sub group and it was confirmed that the partners are keen to have the PPG fund raise for agreed requirements

IN-HOUSE STAFF TRAINING – NHS England has given permission for OHC to do in-house staff training once a quarter. The first session which will be advertised on the website, will be on the 21st April from 1.00pm-5.30pm and then OHC will re-open. The PPG will send a poster detailing this to people on the PPG mailing list.

RESPONSES TO TDC LOCAL PLAN – The PPG.OHC and Lingfield practice have submitted statements but East Surrey Hospital have yet to respond. David Borer asked if the OHC statement will published on the TDC websitefor the public to see, Ronnie Godfrey is going to check.

LOCUM ARRANGEMENT – Dr Saini will be covering for Dr Ramalingam, who is unwell and will be away for some time, until she leaves in April when Dr Williams will cover until June.

TALKS – The next talk will be at the URC when Dr Sian Griffiths will follow up her previous talk on rheumatism covering osteoporosis, polymyalgia rheumatica and gout. We discussed how best to secure the sponsorship needed to cover the hall, equipment and refreshments.

NEWSLETTER – There are a couple of articles to be checked but the next newsletter should be finished by Easter.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS – The 2 students on the PPG are taking a gap year and can stay on the PPG and but will keep in contact with Oxted School for future members. It was noted that the PPG pages need updating which will be done asap. We asked why if a patient has 2 children 1 is linked via the mother for online bookings but not the other. Ronnie Godfrey is going to look into this and enquire if it can be stated online when a doctor is on holiday. Feedbacks received about OHC, appointments, services and the prescription service were complimentary.

The next meeting is Thursday 12th May 2016 at 7:00pm.