Abridge Surgery
Minutes of PPG meeting
Thursday 28th January, 2016 
7-8.30pm  Abridge Village Hall
Attendees: Dr.Rob Gerlis (speaker), Elaine Dowsett, Angela Vane, Geoff & Elaine Jeffries, Tracey Sutton, Christine Stubbins, John Smith, Sandra Wood, John Stevenson, John Goode, Michelle Anstiss (Chair)

Apologies: Michael Hall, David Riches
1.	Welcome, apologies and introductions
2.	Minutes of the previous meeting on 29th October, 2015 – Reviewed 
3.	Guest speaker presentation and q & a  - Dr.Rob Gerlis(Chair of West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and GP)
Rob Gerlis presentation well received, although many of the members weren’t able to fully appreciate the organisational overview of the NHS.  
Include summary of Rob’s key messages which were:-
Explanation of things the hub is used for.  Differentiate what the following services are and when / how they can be used:- Gp surgery, the hub and gp out of hours
Rob has invited feedback both positive and negative to the CCG  as well as patient stories again both positive and negative – via the CCG website using the following link:-
 http://www.westessexccg.nhs.uk/have-your-say
They use patient stories at the beginning of their board meetings – to which all members of the public are able to attend.  
Promoting self-care – healthy living

Action:	AM to locate an NHS-wide organisation chart and send to all.
4.	Updates / feedback from Abridge Surgery – 
Missed appointments – 2015
January – March = 186
April – June = 121
July – September = 133
October – December = 116
Action
We were sending out letters to patients who were dna.  When patients received the letters they telephoned the surgery and explained the reasons that they hadn’t come.
However, we have stopped sending out letters as some patients were getting annoyed and because of the postage costs.
If the Practice Manager notices someone has missed 2 appointments in close proximity he does call them personally and discusses with them and it is noted on their patient record.  
Discussion surrounding whether costs of missed appointments can be identified.
The Hub
It is not for emergencies but as another option for an appointment, available at the weekend.  In the summer, weekday evening appointments will also be available. 
During the week you can request to book an appointment there.  
There is a Health Care Assistant, Nurse and GP available on Saturdays and Sundays at the Loughton Medical Centre.  We have posters up at the surgery and further information at the front desk and as always, available on our website.  
SENIOR HEALTH CHECKS (AGE 75+)
A recent article in the national press highlighted that health checks save lives.  
Book in for your free, 15 minute ‘winter MOT’ at Abridge Surgery with our Health Care Assistant on Thursdays 3.30-5.30pm.   
Call the surgery on 01992 812961 to book your appointment. 

Capturing patient’s mobile numbers
Ideas / suggestions on how to capture this information, together with email addresses so that we can send more targeted information to patients – was discussed.
Friends & Family (form shown)
Forms are available in our waiting room.  They are a quick measure of the patients’ feelings / feedback at that moment in time.  
They are collated monthly and analysed.  Any trends or areas to be acted upon at the surgery are actioned.  Although most of the feedback is very positive, it is mainly anonymous and so if there are any areas that are specific to a patient, they can’t necessarily be actioned directly.  
E.g. we have listened to patients and we are trying to employ more female locums.  
It was implemented almost a year ago.  At the start, the uptake was very high, but in the last 2 months the responses have dwindled.  
We are looking to you for ideas as to how we can encourage patients to start completing them again, as immediate feedback is invaluable.  
Some suggestions would be e.g. to hand out at reception with a pen and also to leave in the nurse or GP’s rooms to hand out after their appointments?
Any further ideas from the group would be welcome.
Patient survey (shown recent results) 
This information will be published in the next Link Up magazine.  

5.	Feedback / issues raised by PPG

6.	Priorities for PPG in 2016

PPG members would like to organise and hold an ‘event’ 
Likely to be in the summer to promote ‘healthy living’
Target audience – all patients. From parents with children to older community.  
Actions:  Michelle to contact Bev at hall to see when it’s available in the summer
Mr Stevenson spoke to Sailesh to see if he would be interested – he is. 

Thoughts re: speakers talking for 15 minutes + 5 minute q & a after each session
Suggestions:
Medicines management – Anurita
Health visitor / school nurse – Loughton medical centre
Sailesh – local pharmacy
Dr.Bob Chew – palliative care (support services that people can access)
Obesity – group running at the Village Hall 

Suggestion that we at the surgery contact CCG for sponsorship ie. Cost of hall hire and teas and coffees.  
Representatives of CCG could be present for q&a panel at the end and that reps of clinical team are present from Abridge Surgery.  
Need to identify and target what the key ‘illness audience’ are of Abridge Surgery and run sessions according to them – diabetes and obesity
  
PPG had identified that they could do a leaflet drop with the LinkUp magazine distribution as well as sending out leaflets to the local schools: ? Abridge and Stapleford
Tracey – could promote on facebook ? create a facebook page
Surgery  - could promote on our website

Amanda to discuss with MH and DC and BI
Is this something we are happy to promote?
Summer
Hall hire
Identify dates that Drs could potentially be available in the evening 7 ish for approx. 1 ½ hours.  
In principle it’s the patients’ opportunity to ask questions of your healthcare providers
Invite CCG
Spread information with key messages in LinkUp magazine

Also, need to identify by April a key speaker for July
Which health conditions do the majority of people in our community suffer from? – diabetes, obesity – speak to the weight loss group who run sessions at the village hall. 

7.	Next Meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 20th April, 2016 at 7pm at the Abridge Village Hall with guest speaker Ros Willsher who is a representative of Dementia Friends Information Group. 

Meeting closed at 8.30pm Thank you to all who attended