Minutes of the Amherst PPG Meeting: Monday 15 December, 2025

In attendance

• For the Practice: Dr Esther Cheesman (EC), Ravi Iyer (RI)
• For the PPG: Melanie McInerney (MM - Chair), Simon Bull (SB), Rosie Claxton (RC), Caro Cluskey (CC), Tony Hayday (TH), Dr Bridget Hopkins (BH), Nick Thorne (NT - Secretary)
• Apologies: Jackie Giltrow (JG)

1 Welcome & apologies for absence

MM welcomed all members and presented JG’s apologies

2 Membership matters

• EC was welcomed to her first meeting of the PPG
• NT is resigning from the PPG following this meeting as he is moving out of the area; he was thanked for his contributions
• No candidates to replace NT as Secretary were proposed; carried forward
• AMP to suggest any potential new members to cover turnover of members

3 Actions agreed at last meeting

• No changes required to content of PPG noticeboard
• Item about accuRx not being for urgent conditions was in last newsletter
• Wording on the accuRx website page has been changed from “routine” to “non-urgent”
• Draft more friendly possible alternative “welcome” paperwork
• Ensure banner has notice of upcoming changes to opening hours, including Protected Learning Time days from the Monday of the week concerned
• See whether Knole U3A want SB to do a talk

4 Practice update

• Staff changes:
  • Dr Kavita Gaur will be leaving in early February
  • Recruitment is underway for two new salaried GPs
• Funding for the two additional consulting rooms was approved by NHS England; building work is due to start on 5 January and take 4 weeks. AMP will be funding the furniture etc required for these rooms
• The pause on new patient registrations has been further extended to 31 March 2026
• Friends & Family survey results: nothing recently of any particular note; they remain positive
• Missed appointment statistics show no change from the previous quarter, averaging around 1%

5 PCN & West Kent Chairs update (including use of Johns Hopkins scores)

MM reported on her recent meetings with both these groups. The main points arising were:

• The use of Johns Hopkins scores to identify the most vulnerable patients and ensure they are seen regularly, consent forms completed and structured medication reviews conducted
• Possible changes to Sevenoaks Hospital outpatient services and e.g. X-Ray opening hours to be checked and reported back to PPG

6 NHS 10 year plan: implications for AMP

The plan promises considerable IT simplification

7 Update on NHS app sessions

After a hiatus a few weeks ago, the number of patients attending has returned to its previous level, and cumulatively almost 200 people have been helped.

It is gratifying that many are finding how useful (and usable) the app is.

SB will write to the development team to highlight anomalies (e.g. inability to download one’s medical history) and the lack of training materials.

8 Review of PPG terms of reference

• MM’s review of the terms of reference established in February 2024 was discussed and the value of the PPG having advance notice of changes of AMP policy affecting patients was highlighted
• It was agreed that at present there is no identified topic requiring a survey
• The PPG are keen to be involved at the earliest stage should total triage be introduced, so that they can help shape any new ways of working and ensure patients are kept informed
• It was agreed that the next “deep dive” would be into the system of regular health checks (starting with the range of checks offered, uptake rates etc)

9 Method of distribution of future PPG newsletters

• To facilitate more email distribution, it was agreed that forms granting GDPR consent to receive email communications be made available in consulting rooms and Reception, and that patients flagged as not currently consenting be invited to do so
• The next issue of Amherst News is planned for June 2026

10 Accessibility of Information Standards

RI confirmed that the practice is in conformity with the current standards, e.g. through posters in waiting rooms

11 Any other business

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 19.25