Patients Participation Group
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the Patients’ Participation Group (PPG) is to establish and embed a relationship between the surgery (organisational team) at Maiden Newton Pound Piece Surgery and the patient population. It consists of patients of the surgery forming an Operational Group which meets quarterly to discuss issues raised in that quarter.
It will communicate patient experience, concerns, suggestions, comments and compliments in an objective manner. The PPG will act as an information conduit between Ammonite and the patient population.
Comments and contributions in the first instance should be addressed to ppg.ammonite@dorsetgp.nhs.uk who will distribute the correspondence with any response to your representative.
Personal and individual matters can still of course be discussed with the Surgery directly, but the PPG will concern itself with group experience and responses.
The intent on these pages is to post the most recent Minutes of the PPG Meeting as well as any updates from Ammonite about such matters as new staff appointments and progress with the pharmacy and waiting area. Critical dates and information about vaccinations and similar community health matters will also be posted when available.
Colin Fulton Cattistock Representative
MAIDEN NEWTON (POUND PIECE) AND BEAMINSTER (TUNNEL ROAD) PPG MEETING
Webber’s Piece, 2-3pm, 3rd September 2024
Present: David Webb (Chair), Annabelle Jackman (Tunnel Road), Gillian Fearnyough (Tunnel Road), Colin Fulton (Cattistock PC) Claire Gregory-Patient Services Manager, Carly Reed- Head of Clinical Services, Annabel Matterface-SLT assistant, Joyce Rendell (Tunnel Road), Eileen Laidler, Chris Wardell (Toller PC), Bekkie Webb (MN/FV PC, note-taker)
Apologies: Di Padfield, Kevin Bowmaster, Sue Hinchley
- Welcome and introductions
David welcomed representatives of the PPG from Tunnel Road in Beaminster.
Ammonite welcomed the idea of having Maiden Newton and Tunnel Road as a joint PPG separate from the Bridport one due to the fact that these smaller surgeries are different in nature to the Bridport Medical Centre. The venue for the PPG meetings can alternate between Tunnel Road and Pound Piece as before.
- Review of actions from last meeting
- PPG Bank Account – there is a bank balance of around £3,000.
Action – Colin and David to arrange new signatories for the bank account
- Blood pressure machine – Ammonite are ready to purchase the machine for Tunnel Road, and the one for Maiden Newton will be purchased after the renovations. The machines cost £1,500 each. Ammonite requested half the cost to come from the PPG, and any ongoing maintenance and running costs will be covered by Ammonite.
Action – David to confirm if there will be a donation from the Maiden Newton Runners towards the machine at Maiden Newton.
- Book exchange – Sue Hinchley has offered to take on the organisation of the book sales at Pound Piece to generate income but will need volunteers to support. There is a collection of donated books available at Tunnel Road. Once the re-organisation is completed at Pound Piece, the book exchange can start up again. The role requires keeping the stock in order and topping it up every couple of weeks, collecting the money and paying it into the bank account.
Action: Tunnel Road representatives to discuss and confirm who will manage the book sales there.
- Prescription deliveries – Joyce Rendell runs the car service for Tunnel Road. A second driver is needed in Beaminster. Country Cars focus on taking people to hospital appointments. They also need new drivers.
Action: Ammonite to put a sign up at reception calling for volunteers for prescription deliveries on a Thursday in Beaminster.
- Talks by medical practitioners on specific topics – This could be of interest but Cattistock Hub on Friday mornings is not a suitable location. Ammonite would like to see general talks happening in the community. Personal medical enquiries have to be conducted separately.
Action: Bekkie to follow up with the social prescribing team.
- Communication – There is a need to look at the ways that information from both surgeries is disseminated. Some parish councils have websites that can host information and parish minutes can contain updates. There are also parish and village magazines.
Action: David to write a summary/update to go in magazines and online. Beaminster representatives to ask the Town Clerk how to share information there.
- Ammonite Update
At Pound Piece the dispensary has moved into a larger room and this is working well. Quotes are being sought to switch the waiting room and reception over to improve communication between reception and the dispensary. This will also enable a separate queue for collecting medication, reducing queues at busy times.
The dispensaries and receptions in both surgeries are now fully staffed.
At Tunnel Road, there is now a GP available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. At other times a Nurse Practitioner is available.
At Maiden Newton, there are three GPs available on all days except Thursdays and a trainee is also starting under Dr Singh. The closure on Thursday will continue for the foreseeable future.
The CAB will be resuming their services at the surgery on a Tuesday morning going forward.
Vaccination Clinics
RSV – this is a respiratory virus similar to flu that is dangerous for infants and the elderly. Everyone over 75 and pregnant women are eligible for the jab. Vaccination will start on 1st September and those eligible will be invited to attend. It is not ideal to have the RSV vaccine at the same time as the Flu and Covid vaccine as this can decrease the vaccines effectiveness. If you are over 80, you are not eligible for this vaccine, so anyone aged 79 is being prioritised.
Action: Annabel to share the flyer for the RSV clinic dates.
Flu – vaccination clinics will begin on 5th October. This is for the over 65s, those with chronic health issues, carers, pregnant women and vulnerable children. Later vaccination means people are Covid vaccination will be offered at the same time. This will be in Bridport, with exceptions for those who are house bound. Patients are encouraged NOT to get their jabs at pharmacies as this reduces vital income for local NHS services. Maiden Newton surgery have requested to run the flu clinic and will confirm if this is permitted by the ICB.
Patient services update – On reception in Maiden Newton there is now Kim, Jess, Matt and Amanda. Amanda also works out of Tunnel Road.
Complaint forms and consent forms are now available from reception. Claire Gregory is able to deal with most of the issues. Suggestion boxes will also be introduced at both sites. Complaints can also be made via the website (see ‘contact us – feedback’). Complaint themes are collated and monitored to look for areas of improvement.
There is an issue with how patients can access their results. Some can use the NHS app, but others are asked for ID. Results are no longer given over the phone.
Action: Ammonite to put complaint forms on website so they can be downloaded or submitted online.
Questions and comments from Parish representatives
Remote GP service (Livi) – Some patients still are unhappy about being dealt with by a GP they do not know or receiving a diagnosis without being seen. All eConsults are triaged by Ammonite GP’s before allocating those suitable to be dealt with over the phone with a LIVI GP. All LIVI GPs are fully registered and have full access to Ammonite medical records. Ammonite use LIVI to enable us to increase access to the healthcare for our patients and ensure more prompt assessment for those that need it. If there are any concerns, the LIVI GP can request a face to face appointment at the surgery with an appropriate clinician. LIVI GP’s can also order relevant tests, such as bloods and x-rays, alongside issuing prescriptions.
Confidentiality at reception – Some patients feel that they are being overheard at reception, or if a receptionist completes a consult form on their behalf. There is a room available but a receptionist may not feel able to leave the front desk.
Action: Ammonite to look at how this can be improved, particularly in Maiden Newton with the new lay-out.
Walking for Health – more volunteers are needed to keep the groups going at both sites. This could be included in the update.
NHS app and ‘Airmid’ app – some patients can log into the NHS app but others can’t access it until they have registered for the other one. There also are continuing problems with communication from Bridport for some Tunnel Road patients.
Action: Ammonite to resolve technical issue with accessing NHS app and registration process and to look into the communication between Bridport and Tunnel Road.
Action: PPG to discuss records being linked between medical teams and clinics at next meeting.
Next meeting – will take place in Beaminster in early December, exact time and venue to be confirmed.
Please find below information regarding RSV vaccinations, as well as Covid/Flu clinics:
RSV
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) Clinics
7th September Tunnel Road surgery – Now full Booked
14th September Bridport Surgery – Now fully Booked
There are some slots in Maiden Newton during the week for those unable to travel
*Although the dates above are full, expect further invites to be sent in due course along with more clinics.
RSV vaccine for adults (publishing.service.gov.uk) – please follow this link for further information on RSV.
FLU/COVID
Flu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk) – Please follow this link for information on the flu vaccine from the NHS website, including when patients will be eligible to receive.
Campaign timing
As stated in the National Flu Immunisation Programme 2024 to 2025 letter, flu vaccinations for pregnant women, and all children’s flu cohorts, will commence from Sunday 1 September 2024.
The main flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign will commence on Thursday 3 October 2024.
Vaccination of all COVID-19 cohorts will start on 3 October at the same time as all other adult flu cohorts, as set out in the flu letter.
An October start date reflects JCVI advice that the flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults and so a later start date is preferable.
The advice differs for children, because flu circulates in this age group earlier and protection lasts longer. This was set out in the flu letter on 12 March and reconfirmed on 18 June 2024.
The start date for COVID-19 vaccinations aligns to flu to support co-administration of flu and COVID-19.
Please below the proposed plan for covid/flu vaccination:
Flu and Covid dates
SATURDAY 5TH October BMC-Over 65’s
WEDNESDAY 9th October BMC- Over 75s
SATURDAY 12th October BMC Under 65s
WEDNESDAY 16th October BMC- Over 75s
SATURDAY 19th October BMC- Over 65s
WEDNESDAY 23rd October TBC? Mixed ages
SATURDAY 26th October-BMC Under 65s
WEDNESDAY 30th October-TBC? mixed ages
SATURDAY 2nd November- BMC TBC
WEDNESDAY 9th November-TBC
It is hoped to deliver a covid clinic at Maiden Newton as soon as authorisation to do so has been received. Any further information will be forwarded in due course.
3 Members of the PPG were invited by Ammonite to Maiden Newton Surgery at Pound Piece on Wednesday 21st August to view progress with the new dispensary project. This provides a much bigger space for stocking and preparing prescriptions and frees up the space of the old dispensing area at the other end of the building to become a more comfortable staff room.
More staff are employed including a trainee dispenser and a dispensing assistant.
A second phase of the project, estimated to take approximately 6 months to reorganise the spaces, will see the waiting room moving to where the reception is currently and the current waiting room becoming a new reception. This will allow separation of the patients who are collecting prescriptions from those attending for appointments or queuing with queries. This reception area will have a space dedicated for children and a library.
Whilst awaiting this second phase to be completed a temporary library (mobile bookshelf unit) will be available. Ultimately separate seating areas will be provided for those awaiting appointments and those collecting prescriptions.
Space for two receptionists will be provided in order to reduce waiting time. The self check-in screen will continue to be important to ease pressure on reception.
More information on this and other matters will be posted as it becomes available and after a further meeting of the PPG in September.