Sept. 5, 2023
Minutes
Present
Clive Husselbury (CH) - Patient Representative (Chair)
Dr M J Sanchez (MJS) - Senior GP Partner
Dr M Kanag (MK) - GP Partner
Nick Conn (NC) - IT & Systems Manager
Mel Shiel - COCO PCN Operations Manager
Pippa Tucker-Brown (PB) - Patient Representative
Patricia Maguire (PM) - Patient Representative
David Barker (DB) - Patient Representative
Eva De Graaf (ED) - Patient Representative
Annette Hart (AH) - Patient Representative
Fiona Bailey (FB) - Guest – Chair of Ottershaw PPG
Catherine Brunton-Green (CB) - Guest – Chair of Chertsey PPG
1. INTRODUCTIONS & APOLOGIES
Apologies: Julie Cowgill (JC) / Lisa Anderson (LA) / Susan Goundry (SG) / Sara Hatchwell (SH) /
David Curran (DC) / Jacintha McGahon (JMcG) / DR M Nyekiova (MN) / Claire Alvey (CA)
2. Declaration of any conflicts of interest:
PB is employed part-time in a Communications role for our COCO PCN.
It was noted that LA is a Practice Manager elsewhere.
No others declared.
3. Minutes of previous meeting 14th September 2022: Considered Approved
4 Matters arising from previous meeting not covered below
4.1 Number of registered patients: 17194 as at 1st September
4.2 Statistics on Activity Levels: Circulated separately.
4.3 Online Public Meeting – 6pm Thursday 18th May 2023:
We would like to record our thanks to Runnymede Borough Council (RBC), Surrey County Council (SCC) and Councilor John Furey for their support and assistance in arranging and running this meeting.
Although attendance was rather lower than hoped for, the practice team were very happy with how the session went and PPG Members were highly complimentary. Some PPG Members said they had noted a reduction in negative posts on local social media since the event. MK said that other practices had viewed the session and were planning something similar.
It was agreed that we should consider another event, maybe mid-2024, but perhaps only if we have something new to say.
4.4 It was noted that access to the LIVI Service ended on Thursday 18th May.
4.5 ‘Rapid Health’ – This is the ability for patients to book certain appointments direct without having to go via the Practice/GP – It is accessed via the appointments section of the practice web site and covers: Adult Immunisations, Cervical Smears, NHS Health Checks. It is hoped that ‘First Access Physiotherapy can be added soon.
5. Staffing & Practice Update (COFP, COCO PCN, NICS)
5.1 Crouch Oak:
The triage system is working very well, and alongside the new website which links into patient records this has greatly improved efficiency and throughput.
Things have been very stretched over the Summer due to holidays.
Regarding the national political rhetoric of ‘everybody being entitled to see their GP face-to-face when they want to’ – This is impossible to deliver with current resources and would mean 8 week waiting times. Furthermore ‘Want’ cannot take precedence over ‘Need’ which is the point of triage.
The COFP way of working has led to more content staff and the ability to retain staff as well as recruit, which had previously been difficult.
Additional Doctors are joining shortly, and the GP team will be up to full strength by the end of October.
Other recruits include two trainee GPs, a Respiratory Testing Nurse, members of the Pharmacy Team and two care navigators – Bertie (Bertrum) & Mohammed.
5.2 COCO PCN:
The team has grown to almost 40 people.
A ‘GP Assistant’ is amongst the new recruits.
See item 7.11
The Team now has an Office within the same building as Chertsey practice.
5.3 NICS Activity:
Running the Covid Vaccination Clinics for eligible cohorts of patients – These will be at Chertsey Hall and eligible patients will receive an invitation to book.
Providing Lung Function Tests, although COFP now has its own Respiratory Nurse.
Run the Acute Illness Clinics at St Peters where visits are by appointment via your GP or NHS 111, or the NHS APP.
Run Phlebotomy (Blood Test) services.
Run the Home Visiting Paramedic services.
5.4 PCN PR & Social Prescribing:
PB gave an excellent summary of activity and highlighted areas for more work.
A page from the recent edition of Runnymede Life is appended with these minutes.
PB asked PPG members to share items on local media, directly from the COCO PCN media.
PB said that Instagram is being used with an aim of engagement with younger cohorts.
6. Key Area for focus (Update/Review)
6.1 Patient Access:
New web site: Seems to be working very well and for the surgery it is quicker and more efficient especially as it integrates with patient records on one screen. Like Footfall, the Practice has no control over structure and navigation, which is rather poor in some areas. Hopefully future software updates will address some of the issues.
CROUCH OAK FAMILY PRACTICE
6.2 Patient Feedback/Level of Complaints/FFT
Monthly FFT results can be viewed on the surgery website.
https://www.crouchoak.nhs.uk/service/friends-and-family-test/
Also attached are the positive comments received during August 2023.
7 AOB
7.1 Flu Clinics (this year over 65s & vulnerable/compromised only, not the 50-65 age group): These will be on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, commencing 3rd October. It may be possible to also have an earlier session, subject to arrival of the Vaccines. Text messages are already going out inviting patients to book. Support with Stewarding, taking BP using the Pod and showing people how to use the NHS APP is requested from PPG Members – Please let CH know if you can assist at any of these sessions:
Tuesday 3rd Oct 6pm to7.30pm
Saturday 9th October 9am to 12.30pm
Tuesday 10th Oct 6pm to7.30pm
Saturday 14th October 9am to 12.30pm
Action - all
7.2 Getting more patients using online Repeat Prescription Services and in particular the NHS APP – Possible in-surgery support sessions. See 7.1
7.3 Information regarding shortages of various medicines was rarely available in any proactive way to the Practice, often meaning items being prescribed that are not available. This is causing stress for all concerned and leading to abuse of pharmacy staff.
7.3 Returning unused Medicines to Pharmacies for safe disposal. Locally this seems to be an issue, with local social media indicating that almost no pharmacies in the area are accepting them, even though it is in their contract. Amongst the issues may be:
- Inadequate storage availability at the pharmacies (we understand that it is a bin!)
- Insufficient frequency of collections
- Financial pressures
- Time pressure on staff
This is at the same time that people are being encouraged not to hoard medicines.
FB is on the area ‘Safety of Medicines’ committee and will endeavor to escalate this issue.
At the same time, it is felt that many people are not aware of the option to return unused items and that a national awareness campaign is needed.
It was noted that all packaging should be removed before returning items, so for example pills should be loose – not in a box nor a blister pack.
Controlled Drugs are a more significant problem…
Action -FB
7.5 MK highlighted that GP Practices are experiencing major financial challenges, that have caused a number to close. Without increased funding there may at some future point be a ‘work to rule’ where practices only undertake work that is within the contract.
7.6 New GP Contract. Although a new five-year contract is due next year, it is likely that this will be postponed until after the next General Election.
7.7 ADDLESTONE TWO – There is nothing to report, and nobody has any information on timescales or detailed plans. Ch will try to find out more.
Action - CH
7.8 Building Maintenance – It was noted that NHS Estates are responsible but consistently fail to do what is needed, even claiming to have completed work that they have not! It was suggested that we might seek support from local companies and/or Tradespersons, in return for the PR benefit that might accrue to them perhaps using social media.
7.9 The notice given regarding closures of the practice for training afternoons was raised. There does not seem to be an optimal solution, but it was felt that around 1 week ahead as well as the day before might be best. However, the practice is being asked by the ICB/ICS to send out FEWER messages. Equally, they have to pick their day to send out the initial notification as it does tend to lead to an immediate surge in patient demand.
7.10 SAFE CAPACITY. There has been a lot of ‘noise’ nationally in the media and from the BMA/RCGP/etc about GPs working to safe limits. COFP are strict on this to avoid potential serious errors or burnout of clinical staff. This is why there are not an unlimited number of appointments.
7.11 It was noted that Chertsey practice has been deluged with new patients recently. The PCN are supporting them with this issue.