Abridge Surgery
Minutes of PPG meeting
Thursday 5th March, 2015 at 7pm
Attendees: John Stevenson, Beverly Gibbs, John Smith, Melanie Husted-Smith, Michael Hall (Chair for this meeting),  Angela Vane
Apologies: Jennifer Cresswell, John Richardson, Peter Rhys
This was Abridge Surgery’s inaugural PPG meeting.
The following areas were discussed:-
1.	Michael reiterated  the aims and objectives of the PPG

2.	Members (and staff) introduced themselves

3.	Attendees suggested ideas (see below)

4.	Having a good representation - to date we have only received applications for joining PPG from a handful of patients interested in joining.
a)	Current PPG members to distribute Abridge Surgery PPG application forms to the following locations as to date we have only had responses from a handful of patients interested in joining:-
•	Theydon Bois Post Office, Theydon Chemist
•	They are available online to be downloaded on Abridge Surgery’s website.  
•	More copies are available from the Surgery. 
b)	Melanie would like to be Chairman – Thank you.  To be further discussed / mooted at next meeting when more members are present.

5.	Areas discussed:-
a)	Suggestion of refreshing the patient waiting area (Melanie). 
Beverly mentioned that she believes that a grant is available for the surgery to cover this.  She will find out.  
b)	Suggestion of a private area to be created for patients to speak confidentially to reception staff when collecting results etc. as this is currently not possible.  
c)	More comfortable chairs would be appreciated, especially with arms for elderly patients.
d)	Improving waiting area – e.g. plants (which we do have currently).
e)	Implanting  a drinks machine (Melanie)
f)	Booking-in screen
g)	Clear sign / poster to be put on the door to book in, as patients are not registering at reception when they arrive at the Surgery for their appointments. 
h)	Waiting area to be made more child-friendly – perhaps members can identify what other like-sized surgeries have in place and report back at the next meeting with suggestions / ideas and costs?
i)	Doctors’ call-backs – to be improved (Melanie)
j)	Suggestion that patients can be contacted (free text) or email when information has been captured by surgery (forms to be put in reception / waiting area this week to enable surgery to do this) regarding specific initiatives as a reminder e.g. flu jab. (Beverly)  A suggestion of specific wording to be identified – perhaps Beverly could source this?  In other words, any suggestions welcome to encourage patients to come for any specific initiatives.  
This has already been identified by the surgery and as stated above capturing both emails and mobile numbers will certainly help to contact patients.
k)	Theme weeks – with specific posters and other information (Melanie) for e.g. smoking cessation, flu.
l)	Patients to be made more aware of how many appointments have been missed monthly.  This is already available on a poster in the waiting room, however, this may have been missed.

6.	Any other business
a)	John Smith asked about how appointments were booked / allocated daily.
It was clarified that 3 appointments are pre-bookable in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, the rest can be booked on the day.  We can book 1 month ahead for pre-bookable appointments. 
b)	John Stevenson said that he had no complaints re: appointments at the surgery and always managed to get one.  
c)	Suggestions that surgery hours are extended
d)	Michael discussed the Surgery’s recent successful CQC report.
e)	It was suggested and hoped by the members of the PPG that the GPs would attend occasional PPG meetings 

Meeting closed 8.15pm.
Thank you to all who attended
NEXT MEETING
It was suggested that the next meeting will take place in 1 month on Thursday 16th / 23rd April, 2015 at the Abridge Village Hall.
Please confirm asap which is the more convenient date.
And then 3 monthly – dates tbc.