Patient Group Minutes

 

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

 

Meeting: Monday 9th September 2024 - 6pm to 7.30pm 

In attendance 

For the Practice: Ravi Iyer (RI), Dr Kaushal Kansagra (KK) 

For the PPG:  Melanie McInerney (MM - Chair), Simon Bull (SB), Caro Cluskey (CC), Dr Bridget Hopkins (BH) 

Apologies: Tony Hayday (TH), Jackie Giltrow (JG), Rosie Claxton (RC)

 

1. Welcome & apologies for absence

Tony Hayday (TH), Jackie Giltrow (JG), Rosie Claxton (RC)

 

2. Membership Matters 

Nick Thorne is stepping away from the PPG for the remainder of the year, the secretary role will be covered by MM temporarily.

 

3. AGM items

As MM was appointed Chair mid-year, the mee/ng approved her con/nuing in the role for the next 12 months.

 

4. Minutes of last meeting & actions arising

  • 6a Digital Inclusion – Borough Green had a successful NHS app sign-up campaign supported by Kent Digital; their uptake levels were now approaching AMP’s
  • 6d Seasonal clinical newsletter – agreed to inclusion of relevant ar/cles in the main newsletter
  • 6e Car Park – there will be no change to markings as there is no budget available; repairs to the canopy and associated works to improve pedestrian safety are being assessed.

From 13/5/24:

  • 4a Website update – several changes had been made to improve clarity for users
  • 4b Online non–urgent appointment booking – has been somewhat problematic as it isn’t always used appropriately by patients. This is being addressed.
  • 6 Liaison meetings – TH had productive meetings with the reception team and RI. AccuRx is operating well, helpful ‘at capacity’ messages have been put in place. There is still some resistance to the triage process and reluctance to use Pharmacy First, so the PPG will continue to promote these. The recep/on team reported they have been helping patients with the NHS app/NHS online training, and that the PPG could very usefully assist with this. The need for a system that enables patients to self-book phlebotomy appointments has been escalated to the LMC.
  • 9 Patient survey – Patient feedback is captured regularly via several routes and published on the AMP website. RI confirmed that there was no patiern in the limited negative feedback received. Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback and the changes afoot in the NHS the PPG decided not to run a separate survey at this time.
 

5. Practice Update  

AccuRx is working well, cases of inappropriate use are reducing. The Practice welcomes the support of the PPG in promoting AccuRx, NHS app, NHS online, Pharmacy First as these tools have been developed to make the best use of NHS resources. RI confirmed that no one is excluded by the digital evolution as patients will always be able to telephone or visit the practice. The new technologies are convenient for patients and using them frees up assistance for those who struggle with access.

RI confirmed that the NHS app is now preferred over Patient Access and it would be helpful for those on PA to transition across.

On average, AccuRx ‘on the day’ online capacity is being reached at least twice a week in spite of Partners exceeding the ‘25 daily appointment contacts’. The ability to sustain this is under review. 

 

6. PPG ideas 

  • The patient members of the PPG had met informally to discuss ideas which would help AMP patients, viz:
  • The PPG sought assurance that AMP saw the benefit of an integrated and active PPG and would assist in its efforts to make a posi/ve contribu/on to all stakeholders. This was agreed.
  • The PPG want to improve communica/on of health promotion and useful resources. The Chair noted the AMP website is a rich source of information for patients. The PPG requested permission to set up a PPG Facebook page (with commenting switched off) to improve awareness of initiatives. RI to consult partners.
  • When supporting vaccine clinics, PPG members will distribute flyers covering various initiatives, and an offer of one-to-one help with using digital resources, lead by SB.
  • Further opportunities to improve communica/on will be explored e.g. alternate methods of distributing printed copies of the newsletter, meet and greet linked to a fundraising event.
  • It was agreed that the Chair would meet with RI each month to maintain a regular dialogue.
 

7. Vaccination Clinics 

PPG members have commi%ed to help where able, and previous volunteers will be contacted by the Practice. RI will circulate the final rota.
These are an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of the PPG. Copies of the summer newsletter to be made available along with the flyer (as above).

 

8. Any other business  

Nothing additional to add.

 

Meeting dates for rest of 2024

  • 9 December 2024