Patient Group Meeting

Thursday 13 August 2015

Minutes

In attendance: Anne Swan (AS) Chair, Gail More (GM), Steve Harvey (SH), Sarah Sinclair (SS), Jean Elliott (JE), Gordon Cunningham (GC), Patrick Ross-Taylor (PRT), Dr C Milne (CM), Dr Kelvin McMillan (KM) and Donald Stewart (DS),

  1. Introduction.The Chair opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending. In particular Carol-Ann Jamieson of the Scottish Ambulance Service and Liam Roy local Paramedic.
  1. Apologies.

a.Barbara Dufner (BD), Morag Harley (MH) and Eilidh Sanderlands our new school representative.

  1. Minutes from previous meeting and matters arising.

a.Nil

  1. Carol-Ann Jamieson – Scottish Ambulance Service - NHSL Link Officer.

a.Carol-Ann raised the following points on ambulance cover to the Biggar area:

  • Biggar Ambulance Station:
  • Had a 10 year history of recruitment problems
  • Establishment is 4 staff and base is running with 2-3 vacancies
  • 24 hour cover not sustainable as staff do not want to be on call which also means they have to live locally
  • There are 47 vacancies in South Central area
  • National Target is 75% of calls attended in 8minutes which includes 2 minutes for call
  • 75% of calls in Lanarkshire achieved the target
  • Local stats are not available but maybe able to obtain stats by postcode
  • Factors for not achieving the target include:
  • Age of ambulance fleet
  • Sickness Rate (High levels of stress)
  • Distance/location
  • Service is National and Biggar Ambulance can be called out of area and vice versa
  • Staff are trained in FAST Assessment
  • 89.3% of patients in Lanarkshire arrive at the hospital within 60minutes

b.AS stated the patient group would offer support and asked how it could assist. It was agreed that Carol-Ann would look into the first responder’s scheme being introduced and the group agreed to obtain local support. Carol-Ann will also explore the option of BASIC’s with the practice.

c.DS stated the lack of feedback on ambulance delays is frustrating. Carol-Ann stated William McLaughlin will be local point of contact and provide feedback when required.

d.Group will write to Daniel Rankin the General Manager of Central Division to express concerns and offer support from the community.

  1. Patient survey results. DS stated that 389 surveys were submitted and 91.77% were satisfied with the local health services. A copy of the results is shown below. The majority of comments raised from the 8.23% who were not satisfied were about NHSL services which the practice has no direct influence over. Key themes from the comments were:
  • Online services (Both positive and negative comments)
  • Out of Hours Services
  • Referrals
  • Ambulance Cover
  • Book on the day appointments (Both positive and negative comments)
  1. Action Points/Goals.

a.Automated Defibrillators in Biggar. AS agreed to be the group coordinator.

b.Communication with Borders General Hospital. BD has written to take up their offer of a meeting.

c.NHS Lothian Referrals. DS is to chase up NHS Lothian’s policy on referrals as promised in their letter of 6th March 2015.

d.Premises Improvements. A paper went to the NHS Lanarkshire Capital Improvements meeting in June. Awaiting outcome.

e.Future guest attendees:

  • Martin WhiteheadWishaw Hospital Stroke consultant- Stroke and cardiac stents pathways
  • Community Pharmacist – November Meeting
  • Local Dentist
  • District Nursing Team – November Meeting
  • Craig Cunningham
  • Local MSPs
  1. Any other business

a.CM informed the meeting that there are staff shortages and Kello Hospital which have worsened over the last 3-4 months. This has resulted in beds being unfilled and admissions turned down. It was agreed that AS would write to the CHP General Manager raising concerns of the group.

b.GC agreed subject to his commitments to attend and represent the group at the Carers Fair on 28th August 2015.

c.The Clydesdale Locality Patient Partnership Forum has invited one of the patient group to attend their AGM. JE agreed to attend.

  1. Date of next meetings:

Monday 14th September 2015

Thursday 15 October 2015

Monday 9 November 2015

Thursday 17 December 2015