Jean opened the meeting by welcoming Susan Morley, our new member, and everyone present introduced themselves to Susan.

Agenda Item number 6 was discussed first as Liam Martin was present for this agenda item.  Liam showed the plans to everyone present and said that this project is going to cost 4.5 million.  It is the field behind the school where 32 very sheltered units will be built.  They will be either 2 or 3 bedroom units.  In addition to this, next to the library will be offices.  On the first floor there will be a café.  On the ground floor there will be a lounge for everyone to use, a community room, hairdressers, managers office and four rooms where outreach agencies can come to hold clinics, such as CAB, Alzheimer’s.  There is a public consultation meeting re this on the 17th July 2007 in the church hall in Kessingland.  Planning application has to be sent in by the end of July 2007.  if all goes well, building will start in January 08 with a completion by March 2009.

 1.       Apologies: Dr Johnston, Alan Cornish, Gillian Bennett, Stella Goodhall, Susan Steven-Jones, Gillian Walker.

 2.       The notes of the last meeting held on 2nd April 2007 were read and agreed. 

 3.       Matters Arising:

Update on telephone system:  Kash reported all going well with this.  Any teething problems have been addressed and sorted as and when they have happened.

Update on Newsletter:  See enclosed.  Jean thanked Gill and Stella for their efforts in putting the newsletter together and everyone who contributed with articles.  It was a job well done.  For the next newsletter, it was discussed that we should have a timescale when all articles should be received by Gill.  Kash will send a reminder for new articles for the next newsletter.

Update on Surgery Extension:  Dr Drane reported that there will be one long meeting room and 2 small rooms.  One will probably be used for visiting services ie social services and other agencies and one room will be used for admin purposes.  The idea being that we need to make the reception area more secure to confidentiality and sensitive phone calls.  The meeting room when not in use will be used by staff as a staff room, to go in there to have a break.  Jean added that she was very pleased to hear that staff could go elsewhere from their bases to have a break away from the work environment. 

4.       Correspondence:

Response received for service specification for urgent/emergency out of hours services (enclosed):  Jean had written on behalf of the group and the response was enclosed for everyone’s information.  Dr Drane added that James Elliott has taken on board the comment that more bases are required and in particular the cover between midnight and 8am. 

 Letters to and from Mr M Stonard re Southwold Hospital:  It was discussed that we wait to see what happens.

 5.       Public Involvement Group Meeting (Stella to feedback):  It was discussed that we need to keep ears to the    ground as we do not at present have a regular rep who attends these meetings.

 6.       Practice Based Commissioning:  Dr Drane reported that this has moved on a bit and that the PCT make strategic executive decisions based on the boards decision.  The board has come up with new ideas to provide services locally.  They have come up with 5 pathways where treatment can be offered in the community and there are specialist GP’s who could do minor surgery procedures, for instance, instead of patients having to go to James Paget Hospital.  The two local surgeries are the Andaman and Rosedale.  With regards to community hospitals, Dr Drane reported that they now do blood transfusions.  Dr Drane said he would write an article on PBC for the next issue of the newsletter.

7.       GP Practice Survey Results (see enclosed):  A copy of the report was circulated with the minutes for all the group members.  The group thought it was an excellent report for the practice and were very pleased with the survey results.  The group congratulated the doctors and staff for this and for the care provided to their patients.

 8.       Four Towns Bus Project: Jean reported that she contacted the steering committee and £5000 has been allocated.  The result of which, Jean contacted Kim Joyce to see when the bus had free time to come to Kessingland.  Kim agreed that the bus can come to Kessingland on the last Thursday of each month.  The price was also agreed with the council and Kim.  However, the problem is over where the bus should be parked and it cannot be parked outside the Londis store or the shops.  It can be parked on the bit of road opposite the school in St Edmonds Road.  Kim is liaising with the relevant agencies to get this sorted. 

 9.       40th and 50th Birthday Cards (Kash and Alan):  This was deferred to be discussed when Alan would be present.

 10.    Any Other Business: 

1.   Sue Price informed the group that she will be doing her usual annual show and donations raised will be given to the surgery.

2.   Blood donor sessions – Sue Morley agreed to write an article for the newsletter re this.

 11.    Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting:

 Monday 29th October 2007 at 6.30pm at Kessingland Surgery.

 The meeting closed at 8pm