PPG Meeting 12 September 2013 

Attendees

AM
MR
AH
AH
ND
GK
IS
AD-M
BD-M
AD
JH

Apologies – AT, JN

Lizzie thanked every for attending and discussed confidentiality – any personal issues make appointment with Linda.

Minutes from last meeting discussed

Doctor question – still short, have locums and salaried GP – AJ. Dr Singh is a salaried GP contracted for 12 months.  Will have 4 GPs and Lizzie.  LB explained SK and HP sort path links and letters.  Possible that Dr Woo may stay a bit longer.

Phlebotomy tender – not heard anything new about this.

Flu campaign – 16 October – any helpers want to do this?  Meet and greet etc

Electronic prescription service – problems reported at chemist – prescriptions not sent but not this surgery though, how does it work – explained again to group.

Letters from Graham Allen – LL explained how she received letter re problems booking to see a doctor and the subsequent correspondence back and forth.  LL wanted him to meet at LVS but GA wanted a response to his original letter.  The group wondered what initiated the original complaint?  As GA been so supportive in past LB is surprised at his lack of willingness to meet.  We need his help but this is a nationwide problem.  Dawn Smith CCG has been invited in to over see what is happening.  GA has no fixed surgery to enable group to meet him.  Ginny Klein will contact him and perhaps arrange a meeting.  LB talked about merging with other surgeries, outside companies – Virgin, Tesco etc, opening surgeries but would still struggle to get GPs

A question about why we have the lowest payment per patient in this area ?underfunded, ?being reviewed.  Locums charge high fees, as a GP you have to do a lot of work for your money.  Possibly nursing staff could take on a greeter role, upgrade to Nurse Practitioner but as there is no funding the nurse would have to fund herself - £9000 per year, £45000 over all.  LL explained about a doctor from Nigeria was interested in a position here but a lot of evidence needed for border agency which she couldn’t get in time and he found something else.

What do we want from Graham Allen?

Funding – GK advised LL to respond to his letter as to what problems we have had regarding appointments and GPs – she mentions St Ann’s have similar problems and problems also at A & E.

LL mentioned problems with new patients who may require interpreters, double appointments, not attending. Patients insist its an emergency to get appointment, high DNA.  LB says she sometimes telephones the patients to see why they DNAd.  LL reported that an elderly patient complaining about not being able to get an appointment but in fact just needed advice.  The GP will ring back, patients need educating as to what we can do.  DNAs get a letter after 2 times but mostly ignore it though.  DJ reported that verbal abuse has slowed down.  Other strains on system will be winter which brings added pressures.

AH thanked Ginny Klein for attending.

New campaign for shingles vaccination but we only get 5 vaccs per week and only people aged 70 or 79 will be eligible.  We will also be getting 1800 flu vaccs.

A question about a possible notice board/electronic screen was asked – LL suggested the group fund raise to enable us to buy one. £4000 cost. AM mentioned that if we start fund raising we may have to form a constitution.

Long discussion about writing to Graham Allen, what should go in the letter etc AM and JH to draft. AH left meeting.

Next meeting 5/12/13