NOTES OF THE KESSINGLAND SURGERY PATIENT
PARTICIPATION GROUP MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2008 AT 6.30PM AT
KESSINGLAND SURGERY
Present : Jean Purkis, Kash Gopee, Dr David
Johnston, Dr Robert Coleman,
Dr Munasinghe (GP Registrar), Alan Cornish, Kevin Knightley,
Gillian Bennett, Susan Morley, Ann Webster (Representative for Wrentham
Surgery)
1. Apologies: Dr Nigel Drane, Susan Price, Stella Goodall, Reverend Oddy, Jill Walker.
Introductions and welcome to members representing Wrentham and Wangford: Jean welcomed Ann Webster, new member joining the group representing Wrentham patients. All present introduced themselves to Ann. Jean added that we also have another two new members, Gillian Rush and Colin Hill who will be representing Wangford patients. Owing to prior commitments they were unable to attend this meeting.
Letter of resignation: Kash reported that today she received a letter of resignation with immediate effect from the Group from Susan Steven Jones, The reason for her decision is due to workload pressures and other commitments. It was agreed that Kash will write a letter to Susan on behalf of the Group thanking her for attending regular meetings and her contribution to the Group since it was set up.
2. Notes of the last Meeting: The Notes of the last Meeting held on 19 November 2007 were read and agreed after the following amendment – Item 3.3 Update on Surgery extension, Stella said the Squash Club and not the Golf Club is closing at the end of December.
3. Matters Arising:
3.1 Feeback report to our response to “A Healthier Future” public consultation document, Jean reported that she received a letter of thanks acknowledging the Group’s response.
3.2 The Group responded to the latest consultation paper on the “proposed changes to the Older People’s Mental Health Services” document, Jean reported that she received a letter of thanks acknowledging our response.
4. Newsletter: On behalf of the Group Jean thanked Jill and Stella for putting the fourth issue of the Newsletter together. She also thanked all those who contributed with articles.
Susan pointed out that the article written by Dr Johnston on how to get the most out of your doctor was very clear to understand from the patient’s point of view and in particular if a patient did not understand what the doctor had said, it said that don’t be afraid to ask again as sometimes it can be confusing what the doctor has said.
Susan said that she had taken a patient that she looks after to the JPH to see a Consultant and the patient did not understand what was being said as he was using medical “jargon” and not lay person’s terminology and the poor patient was very confused. Dr Coleman added that this probably due to the training in communication skills for GPs and Consultants.
The Group discussed articles for the next issue of the Newsletter and it was agreed that Alan will do one on how to get the best out of the Nursing Services, Kash said that Stella will do an article, Kevin will ask the Chiropodist who does sessions in the Pharmacy to do an article, Kash will ask Sue Kimber, the Osteopath. Dr Coleman said that if the decision is made on extending surgery hours, a piece could be put in the Newsletter. A decision is expected in two months time.
5. Update on the Kessingland Library Project: Jean reported that the plans were approved and that the building work starts in March 2008 to be completed by August 2009. Jean handed out the plans at the meeting. A copy is attached with these Notes. With regards to the designated Doctor’s room, it was suggested that Kash contacts the PCT to enquire about having a secure computer link from our server to the new building. If this was given approval, it would make sense for the doctors to hold a session at the new site with all the up to date information on the computer rather than come back to the surgery to input information. Jean also asked for the costing for this so that she can present to the Building Project Board, to try and get funding for this.
5.1 Teenage Kicks Project: Jean reported that the first application was turned down by Suffolk County Council. Another bid has been put in and we await the outcome decision. Jean is holding on to a cash donation of £100 for this which was donated by Susan Price. This was raised at a charity show which Susan had organised.
6. Suffolk Link Project: A copy of the Department of Health document, titled "Local Involvement Networks Explained", had been circulated with the Agenda. In Suffolk, from March 2008 the Link Project Groups will take over the Public Forum Groups. They will be looking at health and social related issues. Martin Burnside and Dr Jean McHeath were members from Suffolk elected to the Project Group.
7. Practice Based Commissioning: Dr Coleman said that he is the Partner representing the Practice and attends the regular PBC Meetings. The Group are working on a new specifications for Physiotherapy Services, Incontinence Service, and 24 hour ECG/BP Monitoring Service. There is a new specification for Dermatology Services. The Group are also looking at commissioning of District Nursing Services as there is variation of services across the PCT.
8. Any Other Business:
8.1 Extended opening Hours: Dr Coleman explained to the Group that this Government led and Access is big on their agenda. Practices have to provide an extra 30 minutes per 1000 patients outside of clinical core hours. Clinical core hours being from 8am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday. In the case of our Practice we would have to provide an extra 3 hours per week. Dr Coleman added that the practice preference would be to do two late evening surgery of one and half hours per week rather than a Saturday morning. The group were asked for their comments and views on this.
It was felt by the Group that two late evenings would be better, especially for the working patients. However, the Group would be led by the GPs on this.
8.2 New Telephone System: Jean said that she gets a lot of positive feedback from patients saying it is easier now to get through on the phones.
8.3 Four Towns Bus: Jean reported that the four towns bus has started in Kessingland in January 2008, It will do one session per month and will be located outside the school. The Parish Council will be paying for these sessions.
8.4 Choose and Book System: Jean asked why our practice were not doing this as she was aware that most of the other practice in Lowestoft and Waveney were using the choose and book system. Kash said that we had used this system last year, but had suspended it because there were a lot of technical problems with the system, extra workload pressure on our secretaries and our patients were confused by it especially the elderly. We will be starting to use the system again from April 2008, as the system has improved and most of the original technical issues have been resolved.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting; Monday 2 June 2008, 6.30 pm, at Kessingland surgery. Kash will send copies of the Notes of the last KSPPG Meetings for the last year and Newsletters to our 3 new members prior to the next meeting, so that they can get a “flavour” of things to date
The Meeting closed at 8 pm