PPG MEETING MINUTES  7 July 2016

Apologies –

Alan Talbot, John Woodward, Danielle Clark

Present today –

Barbara Duncombe-Moore, Trevor Rose, Jillian Naylor, Ann Morton, Malcolm Roberts, Ilse Shaw

Previous meeting’s minutes discussed –

Community Pharmacist starting – auditing and will see patients for medication reviews, asthma, hypertension. Could also be an ANP and see minor illnesses. Pharmacists at chemists cannot see patients as not enough available. We are going back to the commissioning board to stop advising patients to see chemists.  We also need to support small pharmacies. We are keeping a log and referring to medicine management, some chemists over-supply medications and some are good.  One patient had 24 boxes of Warfarin.

Repeat dispensing – stable patients can have up to a 1 year supply, one patient put 6 prescriptions in the chemists, had the first and then they denied having the 5 others. Boots – disorganised and a discussion about problems with chemists followed. Some patients feel it is better that they request their prescriptions themselves.  Controlled drugs have to be collected and signed for.  We cannot have our own dispensary in the practice. Again the discrepancy in amounts of medications was discussed ie 30 per month and some get 28.

Patient access was discussed – you can leave a message or arrange prescriptions, need to leave clear message. Idea to promote patient access in next news letter.

Discussed integrated respiratory service and what they do. Patients are issued with a “pink card” giving details of contacts. We can promote this for patients with recognised respiratory conditions, practice nurse can give details.

Unplanned admissions discussed – Q risk score – priority patients could be highlighted – a system that another practice has was discussed. Ideally patients need to be clear on what they want.  A patient discussed a personal problem that they had where they were directed to see a nurse trainee and was not suitable.  An assessment screen for visits was devised by Dr Bakshi.

Doctor first – worked well but patients rang multiple times and a high volume of clinicians is required to sort through calls.  We tried it for 9 months, it did work well but there was such a high volume of calls to manage.

Surplus drugs for charities – looked into this but no one wants them.

Booking in machine – still having problems where patients have not completed the booking in process. Possibly put a sign to advise if not been called after 30 minutes then check at desk.

Some patients cannot see their name on the calling in board – we are unable to move it.

Hand cleanser – can’t have it near the booking in screen, can put on reception if necessary.

Building is back open late but stopping at weekends due to costs.

GPs discussed – Dr Elias salaried, Dr Bakshi is a partner, Dr Calinas salaried, another GP thinking about doing 4 sessions and 2 newly qualified GPs in the process of joining.

Complaints procedure – details on web and in a practice leaflet.

DNA’s – details to go in newsletter. Some are regulars at failing to attend.

Lizzie again encouraged the use of patient access, you can leave non urgent messages.  Lizzie will discuss pathways at the next meeting and other services.

Macmillan coffee morning 30 September.

Next meeting 6 October.