Agenda item

Action By

1  The attendance sheet was duly completed.

2  Apologies – none received

3  Welcome new members - Jan and Linda were warmly welcomed by Rick and introduced to the group.  It was agreed that the group will meet at 6.00pm for the next meeting as this may enable other members to attend.  Maryanne also confirmed that the Partners agreed to pay taxi fares if a patient group member had no other way of attending the meetings.

4  Review minutes of the meeting held 24.03.11.  The minutes were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

4.1 Matters arising:  

Patient Handbook - Rick agreed to find an equal opportunities policy for the booklet

MA to ask Jeff for a patient policy on long term medication

RD

ML

5  Review minutes of the meeting held 28.04.11:  The minutes were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

5.1     Matters arising:  Ben shared his thoughts relating to the talk given by Nick Birtley: (Nick came to discuss how best to set up an effective patient group).

v      Ben suggested the group could develop support groups devoted to a particular disease e.g. diabetes.  A GP could attend the sessions to explain how patients can live and manage their condition.  The meetings could be held quarterly. The group would consist of all patients (not just patient group patients) and two could be co-opted onto the patient group. Ben felt there would be some admin involved e.g. sending letters to targeted patients

All thought this a good idea and should be expanded.  A formal vote was proposed by James and seconded by Jan.  The vote was unanimous.  

Nick’s presentation handout was also discussed.  The group agreed the aim for the group (section 4 P2) to have a clear sense of purpose which is agreed with the practice, and to become an independent body. The ideal is for professional and patients to work together in a partnership.

At this stage of the meeting, all members agreed to maintain confidentiality relating to any material shared or matters discussed within the meeting until such times as it will be made available to patients.

All

6           Review the Patient Participation Direct Enhanced Service

Maryanne explained the DES and circulated a brief description of how patients will be involved. Maryanne explained how the practice wants the group to agree and help improve areas that could be improved as identified in the previous survey.  Maryanne explained the steps required in the DES, the first step will be to build a patient reference group which will reflect a true representative mix of the patient population.

Maryanne agreed to bring suggestions for this mix to the next meeting.  Including ethnicity break down and ways of contacting them.

Step 2 requires the group to formulate and agree a plan to improve the practice; this could include improving services, waiting area, waiting times or anything else the group identifies for improvement.  The recent questionnaire could be a starting block (Maryanne circulated copies of the questionnaire). The group then needs to create another questionnaire to share with the reference group and then circulate this either by e-mail, letter or phone. The aim would be to receive enough results to enable an effective plan to be finalised and acted upon.  The DES to be on the next agenda.

ML

7           A.O.B.

7.1     Patient Group Funds:  The group unanimously voted for Maryanne to ask the Partners for financial backing for the patient group. Proposed by Rick, seconded by Ben.  Ben explained that the group should be able to manage their own budget without fear of bothering the GPs.  The group provided the following reasons why they wished to hold a budget:

v      Holding a budget would lead to independence and strength

v      Aid PPG development

v      Pay for publicity and hire if needed.

v      To improve communication and wider community participation.

v      Would be to the GPs interest.

v      Will help to make the group autonomous

v      £2,500 budget ideal. Any money left over would be given back to the practice.

v      The group requested representation from the Partners at the next meeting to explain why in the event of the budget request being denied.  

Rick to draft a brief re the future organisation of the group (to be discussed at the next meeting).  This to be an agenda item next week.

7.2     Podiatry – James disappointed with current diabetic foot care and had to pay for private treatment as he was unable to get his toe nails cut.  Maryanne to ask Anne for the results of the recent foot survey.

7.3     The group asked for less reminders letters from the practice as some patients felt swamped by the number of letters received.  Maryanne to discuss with Partners.

ML

RD

ML

ML

Date of next meeting:  Tuesday 5^th July 6.00pm

Item

Discussion

Who

1

The attendance form was circulated and completed

2

Apologies received from James and Zainab

3

No new members or staff attended this meeting.

4

Review the minutes of previous meeting held 05.07.11.   The minutes were a correct record of the meeting

5

Matters arising:

5.4)  Foot care – ML to find out where diabetic foot care is now held and any costs involved.

Age Concern (not Red Cross) holds a foot clinic at the Marlow Practice – the next clinic will be held on Tuesday 13^th September.  Age Concern charge £13.50 per patient. (Linda kindly sent the Age Concern tel no: 01256 423874)

4b)   Ben’s group meeting idea – Ben and Jan will attend the diabetic clinic on 7^th October to find out if other diabetic patients would like to form a diabetic support group.

6) Patient questionnaire – All agreed that it is important to involve all members of the patient list including minority groups, young mums, older people, ethnic groups, disabled, young people etc.  ML to target some groups – keep a list of who has been sent a questionnaire and who had been invited to join the patient reference group (physical or virtual).  Questionnaires to be handed out at flu and diabetic clinics.  It is important to demonstrate that the group has changed from the old patient group to the required patient reference group which should be as representative as possible to the patient demographic mix.  ML to bring a break down of the population age banding to the next meeting. ML has approached a Nepalese patient who has agreed to become a virtual patient group member and is willing to assist any other Nepalese patient who has language difficulties particularly with housing and benefits.  The patient is the Chairman of the Basingstoke Nepalese Community.

ML

Ben

Jan

6

Financial dashboard – carried forward to next meeting  

JS

ML

7

Review patient leaflet – draft copies given to all – review next meeting.  Title to be called The Patient’s Handbook.

All

8

Review Newsletter – draft copy distributed.  Some grammatical amendments.  ML to send final draft with minutes.  (Responses required ASAP as newsletter will be placed on website and distributed in the surgery).

All

ML

9

A.O.B.  

9.1    Ben wanted to know if the DNs would attend OakridgeTowers for flu vacs. ML to find out.

9.2    Rick circulated some information relating to how the patient group could develop in the future.  All agreed that the group needs recognition and aims to become a strong, integrated group within the practice.

9.3    ML to find out if the practice will be purchasing an ambulatory blood pressure machine – this in response to recent home BP testing on TV news programmes.

ML

ML

10

Date of next meeting:  Thursday 13^th October 2.00pm.  ML to invite a member of reception and discuss the front desk set up.

ML