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Patient Participation Group (PPG) of Court Thorn Surgery (CTS)
Notes from meeting 19.5 2014
Present: Tony Lainsbury, Jen Sutton, Vikki Sant, Sally Hardcastle, John Poland, Angela Davies
Apologies: Margaret Riches, Lynda Robinson, Sally Budd, Joyce Ousby, Gill Mordain, Tina Walker, Catherine Robinson,
Reminder about the Purpose:
The PPG purpose is to establish how CTS is performing. What’s working and not working from the patients’ perspective. In order to find this out, it will be the aim of the PPG to connect with the practice population in all communication methods and for this information to feedback into the development of practice and future development of services.
Matters Arising following the meeting on 3rd March 2014:
- Business Continuity completed and has been shared with PPG and Volunteer Prescription Drivers
- Practice Business Plan has been shared with PPG
- Sally presented updated accounts and spend is complete for: Health and Wellbeing Grant, just under £300 to spend on Primary care grant, just over £400 to spend on the County Council grant (this could be used to pay for PPG volunteers DBS) – Jen to action this
- Jen to cover the insurance for the forthcoming seminar
- Hearing loop is working well
- Still waiting for the report from Cumbria County Council for the speed data by the surgery entrance
- Fundraiser for Eden Valley Hospice on 8th April raise in excess of £160
- New prescription drivers are being advertised in the parish newsletter for June
- ‘Putting your affairs in order’ proved very useful and successful. (£250) was given as a donation to High Hesket school and to the guest speakers for the event.
Welcome to Angela Davies a new member to the PPG
CQC Inspection:
Rachael, Business Manager attended to express her thanks to the PPG on behalf of the Practice for the feedback that members had proved to the inspectors.
A formal report will be distributed to the PPG members in about a month time and copies will be made available in waiting room and on Practice website for patients.
The three areas that CQC have suggested for the practice to improve on are:
- Removal of the sexual health leaflets from the patient toilets because of the risk of infection
- Sharp boxes used for needs to have date added to them
- Emergency drugs to remove from their present position and to be locked away.
All of these areas have been actioned. The overarching feedback from the inspection is that court thorn Surgery is a well-managed practice who provides good care.
You as the Practice’s valuable PPG have contributed enormously to this positive feedback from the CQC and we whole heartedly want to thank you.
Report of Prescription Delivery service:
This was a requirement as a result of the grant provided by Cumbria Community Foundation. The feedback has been outstanding and the service is greatly valued by the community.
Action:
Jennie will write a press release to the Herald celebrating its success, include full copies in the waiting room and share with the volunteer drivers, inform the Clinical Commissioning Group of the its success, share with Rory Stuart and also include on the volunteer board for 2nd June.
Message in a bottle:
Angela raised this and it was thought that this scheme would be useful to include within the practice for patients and those who receive the prescription delivery service.
Message in a Bottle provides emergency services with vital health information and details of someone you wish to be contacted in an emergency. This is a voluntary scheme for use by anyone. People who live alone, or have health conditions or caring responsibilities may find it particularly useful.
Message in a Bottle works by storing emergency details in a plastic 'bottle' provided which is placed in the door of your fridge. Emergency services will see the emergency sticker provided on your fridge door and they can then locate the bottle containing the important information. If you need emergency treatment or go to hospital due to sudden illness or an accident, this vital information can help treat you and can travel to hospital with you.
Action:
Jen will find out whom to contact and get a supply in and start distributing these with the practice population.
Next seminar: What’s Cooking – planned for June 24th.
Following Jen’s email to David Malone, and the options that are available.
It was agreed that the seminar would be just for one session watching David, perhaps with some audience participation as he prepares the food and then a Q & A session.
This would take an hour all in although a break in between and opportunity to network would be useful too.
Event will start at 7pm – finish 9pm and donations would be encouraged.
Water and squash will be offered as refreshments because it’s a summer event.
Action:
Jen will discuss with David the plans, ask how the scheme is being paid for in the North East, see if there are funds that can be accessed in Cumbria too.
Jen will contact the CCG and see if there is any funding available because the PPG are delivering results.
Jen will check the PPG insurance
Jen to create a Donation sign, make sure entrance signs are available too.
Publicise the next seminar on 7th Oct – Young Carers and Drugs and Alcohol.
Vikki will chat to Mrs Taylor to ask:
Is she happy for micowaves to be used in her venue?
What is the seating capacity of the assembly hall?
Can they help to distribute fliers for the event?
Can the school facilitate the 7th Oct event?
Marketing of the event:
Action:
Jen will create fliers, posters, put in practice newsletter, Eden locality Newsletter, close Practices to CTS, TV screen and in medication
PPG members – raise it within their networks and place posters where possible in the villages
John – to promote the event to his contacts in TV and radio.
AOB:
Booking of Appointments:
There has been a number of concerns raised from patients about the challenge in obtain a timely appointment. A new scheme has been brought in recently to help facilitate this which is to ring up the morning patients want the appointment for a ‘Book on Day’ appointment.
The reason being is that so many appointments are booked in advance that there are only a few available on a daily basis. This means a first come first served process is in operation to manage the daily demand.
If a patient required an urgent appointment they would always be seen that same day.
Dr Sutton joined the discussion regarding this as there could be a number of variables coming into play as to why this ‘Book on Day’ requirement has had such a profound impact than in previous times:
- Dr’s days of working
- Dr Sutton having had a following for so long patients may need to be educated to go to other Drs in the understanding that all consultations are annotated and a full record kept of each consultation regardless of who the patient saw last
- Dr’s specialisms
- Not having a Foundation Year 2 Doctor until the summer
- Not having a registrar until Dr Grainger is trained up (2015)
- Having changed the appointment scheme for the nurses (more afternoons being worked)
- Increased list size
- Need for patient education
Action:
Dr Sutton will raise these issues with the team tomorrow and whatever the outcome – this will be brought to patients’ attention on TV slideshow, Newsletter and poster in waiting room.
The practice doesn’t want a reputation of ‘not being able to get an appointment’ although it’s a balance between meeting expectations and meeting demand.
Dr Sutton also expressed his thanks to the PPG for being so supportive of the Practice and helping to deliver high quality patient focused services. PPG members input into the CQC inspection was greatly appreciated.
Main contact at practice:
Because Jen only works a day a week, if PPG members need to speak to someone at the Practice and the issue can’t wait – then please do ask for Rachael Somerville – Business Manager in Jen’s absence.
; 016974 73548
Date and time of Next meeting:
Planning for the What’s Cooking Seminar - 2-4pm, 9th June at Court Thorn Surgery Resource Room
Many thanks to everyone.
Jen Sutton, 19th May 2014
PS: The reports mentioned were sent to you under a previous email.