PPG Meeting Minutes October 2024

• Chair Adrian Pitts
• Minute taker Sarah Baker

Present

• Sarah Baker (SB)  
• Adrian Pitts (AP)
• Arlene Hansell (AH)  
• Robert Cresswell (RC)
• Lyn Fitzjohn (LF)  
• Andrew Stanley (AS)
• Reuben Lewis (RL)
• Patricia and Peter Williams (PW)
• Laura Phipp (LP)
• Andrew Mackie (AM)
• Mark Munday (MM)  
• Jane Hetherton (JH)
• Susan Holleran (SH)
• Nick Anderson (NA)
• Anne Bambridge (AB)
• Susan Nicholds (SN)
• Jane Hetherton (JH)

Apologies

• Julia Wakeham (JW)

Introductions

• New members were welcomed and introduced to the group.

Minutes of the last meeting

• Minutes agreed 

Matters arising

• None

Actions since the last meeting - West Kent PPG report-AP

• AP attended recent meeting. Main focus was the various APPS available and discussions around attempting to make it smoother. NHS England appear to support the NHS APP over others. Patient Knows best is used by Kent and Medway hospitals. Agreed having so many Apps confusing.
• Local PPGs were asked how they engage new members. Would health talks be beneficial? AP has more info on this if required.

Woodlands Update Including Actions from Last Meeting

• Actions from the last meeting
• Advertise E-Consult on Facebook and resend text SB-completed
• Advertise PLT on Facebook SB-completed
• Reception Environment SB-completed

Winter pressures. The PCN has set up a Same Day Access clinic during the winter months to take pressure away from the GPs. The clinic is at Woodlands on a Thursday afternoon and rotates round the other surgeries Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Friday. Patients can be seen in any surgery if they are able to travel. The clinic is being run by paramedics and a supervisory GP. Can see most minor ailments but patient will also be signposted to the Pharmacy First Scheme.

Pharmacists are now able to prescribe antibiotics for simple infections–sinusitis, sore throat aged 5+, earache aged 1-7, infected insect bite aged 1 year and over, impetigo aged 1 year and over, Shingles aged 18+, UTI women 16-64.

RSV, covid and flu jabs are now being offered to those eligible. Good response from the Over 65 cohort. Poor response from the Under 65 cohort, for flu and covid.

PW-are over 80s eligible for the RSV jab? SB advised there is limited evidence of the RSV vaccine being effective in those aged 80 and above.

E-consults-how are they triaged?

WHC has a team managing incoming E-consults. AI provides “red flags” on any information considered to be possible high risk. These are triaged by the GP. All admin requests and those with no red flags are triaged by the team.

Collective Action

In June BMA opened a ballot for partners to vote on taking collective action over the underfunded and overstretched GMS contract, and the outcome was a resounding yes.

Partners will be able to choose which action their practices will take as they see fit. This action will not be strike action nor should it breach the contract held by NHS England.  

WHC considering limiting to 25 patients a day which is considered the safe amount of patients to be seen per day. Other practices in the PCN are already doing this.

Mike Martin update.

The Q1 data below was provided to Mike Martin following his inappropriate comments regarding access. WHC is performing slightly better than other surgeries in the PCN.

Access Options

AP asked for feedback from the community regarding the access options outlined in the previous PPG minutes.

RC asked his neighbourhood WhatsApp group who generally preferred option 2 with amendments to include carers and special needs patients. Queries had also been made to the age for children and elderly.

SN- poor mobile phone reception in Paddock Wood which could hinder total digital front door. She like the status quo. She likes the option to do book in person, on the telephone or by E-consult. Good feedback given regarding experiences at reception.

It was agreed the PPG was not a true reflection of the local demographic. Very hard to get younger people to engage. Consider asking new patient their thoughts?

RL-consider a stall at the annual Paddock Wood Fete? A few years ago the PPG did have a stall but this was mainly to get support for a crossing on the main road outside the surgery. If a PPG member could take on this project WHC will be in support.
The new Pavilion has a notice board which could accommodate a poster/newsletter/AP synopsis of the meeting.

Survey monkey to all patients? Agreed.
SB and AP to action

Local magazines? AP is attempting to get an article in one of the magazines.

Agreed by all members that having the option on how to book is the best way forward. Encourage E-consult where ever possible.

Upgraded Health Facilities

What plans are in place for new or upgraded health facilities for our rapidly growing town? Is WHC doing anything to influence the ICB and the TW planners in the Local Plan to assist with this? AM

SB advised it is the responsibility of the Kent and Medway ICB to commission any new surgeries/services. SB will ask if a representative from the ICB could attend the next meeting.

WHC does have capacity to increase doctor numbers when required but will not be able to accommodate 7000 new patients in the current building as it is.

SB to action.

Catchment Area for new patients moving into area RC

Practice Boundary is on the notice board as patients enter the waiting room. WHC was on a managed list (taking on new patients if they live in Paddock Wood but if outside Paddock Wood new patients were assigned a surgery by the ICB) Now open to all patients in our catchment area. RC advised a neighbour of his, who lives in Paddock Wood, was told he could not register at WHC. Seems like an error. He will ask his neighbour to ring SB.

Up to date Info in surgery and website RC

Website is currently being updated. SB will change the photo board.
SB to action.

Covid vaccinations boosters available at the surgery RC

SB confirmed covid vaccinations are available at the surgery. Those eligible are currently being invited. Those with mobile phones have all received at least 1 invitation. Those without mobile phones are currently receiving phone calls. AH advised she had not received a phone call but was told she had to go to East Peckham for her vaccine. She was not sure who gave her this information. SB advised if she had already had the vaccine she would not be on a list to be invited to WHC.

Consolidation of APPs RC

Already discussed.

AOB

AS-recent family member had an appointment for a B12. The nurse usually books the next 3 monthly appointment but was unable to as no clinics on. SB advised recent project to map the nurse clinics to specific slot types to enable booking links to be sent to patients negating the need to ring. DNA (Did Not Attend) rate higher for those appointments booked 3 month +. NA suggested in the reminder texts could there be a facility for patients to reply to say they will/won’t attend. SB to investigate.
SB to action.

• LP-Do all staff park in the car parks and is this free? SB advised affirmatively
• RC-could finalised minutes be circulated at least 1 week before the meeting
• AP-could the PPG be mentioned in the Christmas newsletter
• PW-good feedback regarding the prescriptions team

Meeting Closed

Actions:

• Representative from ICB to attend next meeting-SB
• Photo board-SB
• Reminder text-SB
• Survey Monkey SB + AP

Date of next meeting Wednesday 29th January 2025 6pm.

SN offered her apologies for this meeting.