Patient Group Minutes

Meeting: Monday 8 September, 2025, 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),
Rosie Claxton (RC), Caro Cluskey (CC), Jackie Giltrow (JG),
Tony Hayday (TH), Dr Bridget Hopkins (BH),
Nick Thorne (NT - Secretary)

Apologies: None

1. Welcome & apologies for absence

MM welcomed all members; no absences

2. Membership Matters

a) No new applications received
b) AMP to suggest any potential new members to cover potential turnover of members

3. AGM

a) MM was re-elected as Chair
b) NT was re-elected as Secretary
c) RI will continue as the nominated Practice Representative, accompanied at meetings by KK
d) MM reviewed some of the key achievements of the PPG over the past year (e.g. newsletter, Facebook page (280 following), meetings with Practice teams, SB’s IT help sessions) and highlighted disappointments with PCN and

West Kent Chairs (now on hold due to lack of funding). She asked for more visibility of upcoming changes at AMP affecting patients, especially so that the PPG can help with communication

4. Actions arising from last meeting

No changes required to content of PPG noticeboard
b) Not feasible to order batch prescriptions via the AMP website
c) Missed appointment statistics are now on the noticeboard

5. Practice update

a) Staff changes:
Michelle Edmonds joined as Practice Nurse in August, replacing Gail Prentice, and will be undergoing some respiratory training
b. Georgina Woollard joined in August as Advance Clinical Practitioner and Prescribing Paramedic, replacing Josh Smith
c. Claire joined as part-time Receptionist
b) The ICB approved the proposed 2 additional consulting rooms and NHS England’s funding decision is awaited. If RI approved, a condition will be that they are completed by the end of 2025; contractors are on standby.
c) Impact of new GP contract is mainly that from October Accurx will be available for medical submissions from 8am to 6.30pm. Following the imminent Partners’ business meeting, RI will draft suitable content for next newsletter highlighting that this is not for urgent conditions Wording on appointments page of website to be changed from “routine” to “non-urgent”, as compared to “urgent” RI
d) Patients Charter is standard NHS wording
e) Following absence of one GP partner the ICB have approved the extension of the pause on new patient registrations to 2 December 2025
f) “Welcome” paperwork. The “Acceptable Behaviour Contract” new patients are asked to sign was discussed. PPG to draft a more friendly possible alternative NT
g) Friends & Family survey results: nothing recently of any particular note; they remain around 82% positive
h) Missed appointment statistics show no change from the previous quarter, averaging 10/week
i) Learning from Patient Safety Events: AMP now have access to a national database on such events, to help improve procedures based on experience at other surgeries
j) ‘Flu and Covid clinics:
- a. AMP have started ‘flu vaccinations by invitation. (2-3 year olds and pregnant women since 1 September and over 65s and patients with chronic conditions from 1 October). At present these vaccinations are conducted on weekdays, but if it becomes necessary to run weekend clinic/s the PPG will be advised so that they can help as in past years
- b. AMP are not giving Covid injections this Autumn; those wanting them can obtain them from pharmacies
k) Changes to non-NHS services: the website is now consistent as to what is available
l) Patient segmentation (Johns Hopkins scores) was explained; it helps prioritise and triage cases. The website explains this further, and segmentation classification for each patient is updated as new information is received
m) Communication of changes to hours: identify practical way to give advance notice eg banner on website

6. CQC Report

The PPG noted and congratulated AMP on the favourable recent CQC report. RI and KK explained how one issue relating to undiagnosed chronic kidney disease had been addressed with an action plan approved by CQC.

7. Digital/online issues

a) Help sessions frequency now reduced to fortnightly, reflecting demand (some 170 people already helped)
b) SB has met with a member of the Town Practice PPG to help them decide whether/how to offer a similar service to their patients
c) RC to check with Knole U3A whether they would like a talk from SB as he already did for Sevenoaks U3A RC

8 Findings from any further staff liaison meetings

a) Admin would like us to remind patients of the following:
- a. To listen to all phone menu options before selecting
- b. Accurx (not email) is the best way to contact the admin team
- c. Admin cannot order prescriptions or book appointments
b) Nursing team request we flag up:
- a. the knock-on effect of nursing appointment latecomers
- b. the “no glass” rule re urine samples CC for newsletter

9. Future meeting dates

Agreed as 15 December 2025, and 9 March, 8 June, 7 September (AGM) and 7 December 2026. All

10 Ideas for content of Autumn edition of Amherst News (target publication date first week of November)

a) Accurx 08.00 to 18.30 not for urgent conditions
b) Proposed new consulting rooms
c) ‘Flu and Covid inoculations arrangements
d) “Patients Know Best” FAQs
e) Patient segmentation KK assist with text
f) Staff changes

11. Any other business

a) “Patients Know Best” was discussed as a method for MTW hospital patients to access their hospital appointments and letters. It is voluntary, and those who do not register for it continue to receive such information by post.
b) Agreed subject for next meeting: Accessibility of Information Standards

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