Nov. 13, 2024
Minutes
Pond Tail Surgery PPG
Minutes of Meeting
Meeting # 19, Wednesday 13th November 2024 @ 1900 hrs, Lindley Road Community Centre:
1. Welcome: Geoff Stone welcomed all to the 19th meeting and noted that numerous absences were advised.
2. Attendees & Apologies: Geoff Stone, John Buck and Dr Penny Geer, Fran Lemanska, Jenny Williams from Pond
Tail Surgery (PTS) and Ifesi Anyamene from Godstone Pharmacy. Apologies from Alban Brindle, Jackie Clarke, Huw
Williams, Ian Smith, were not in attendance.
3. PPG Terms of Reference & Purpose: The Triage system started in Nov 2023 and reference to Nov in accessing
PTS on screen, which was commented by patients, was finally removed from system.
4. PPG Newsletter: 1. The Newsletter team met and produced the November version ahead of schedule,
congratulations to those involved. 2. Topics included A Getting Ready for Autumn (corrected), B Pension Credit
Campaign. 3. The Article Review Cycle was expanded in October and the Newsletter team will meet 1 or 2 weeks
after the PTS meetings. The Sep and Oct Newsletters for Bletchingley and Godstone differed due to late
submissions. 4. Surgery Pod experience will be covered early next year after PTS staff have optimised the
Ambassador instructions.
5. Newsletter Distribution: 1. Newsletter will be issued to FL for uploading of photo on 14th Nov 2024 and included on
notice boards thereafter - FL 2. Newsletter articles were issued to Godstone and Bletchingley magazine editors on
7th Nov for Dec 2024 publications.
6. Recruitment: 1. Other surgeries including Caterham and Oxted target Duke of Edinburgh participants to support
them. AB will contact Oxted PPG and identify possible DoE participants to become new members of PTS PPG - AB.
2. Check with IS as he may have a contact - GTS.
7. PTS Surgery Update: 1. Dr Umeh’s replacement will start in Feb 2025. 2. Physio therapist Lynne Palmer-Wilson
started in Oct 2024. 3. Admin positions, one will start Dec 2024, the other is outstanding.
4. Flu and Covid inoculations days on 12th & 19th Oct 2024 were very successful. Many patients commented on the
improvement from 2 days in 2023. Thanks to all involved. 5. Migration of new IT system with SystemOne was
primary focus switchover period schedule 14th - 20th Nov. Critical Go Live date of 20th Nov 2024 with system access
by patients will continue to be 0600 - 1700 hrs during Mon - Fri only. 6. Incidents of slanderous writing on PTS
property had been reported to Police in Jan 2024. Regular incidents of slanderous laminated posters, which were
tied to lamp posts, etc in Godstone increased dramatically since. Although some were removed, focus is required to
remove remaining slanderous material. The Police indicated they are unable to arrest individuals unless they were
caught in their illegal acts. 7. External CCTV units had been sourced but not operational to record further
incidents. Operations were imminent. Although cameras placed on adjacent buildings had been tried , they were not
found to be beneficial. 8. The Quality and Diversity Awareness programme, continued to be defined - FL. Training
of staff had started in the autumn and continued. Greater publicity is required following ethnicity and unacceptable
behaviour by specific cohorts. Define way forward - FL. Prepare a magazine article with help from university author,
who had written a book on the subject - PG, FL in Jan 2025. 9. Health Pod equipment was operational but priority
was secondary to above issues. AW had volunteered to act as video patient and will prepare a video for use - FL,
AW. Also, prepare article for a Newsletter in early 2025 - AW. PTS meeting in Jan 2025 will be held on PTS
premises to enable coaching of PoD equipment for Ambassadors - FL, Ambassadors. 10. 42” TV in PTS
reception area was sourced and will provide instruction and information for patients. Thu 21st Nov 2024 pm only will
be closed for training, etc. - All. 11. PTS and Pharmacy Zero Tolerance to Abuse, Violence, etc will be revisited in
future as above critical issues are further advanced. Advise update at Jan 2025 meeting - FL.
8. PTS Website: No major update to report. Fibre broadband will be required for website going forward.
9. Pharmacy & Prescriptions: 1. Godstone Pharmacy was still managing cost shortfall of medicines as many
pharmacies had shut down due to insufficient funds. Prepare a magazine article - IA. 2. BBC interview (in June)
had been held to increase awareness and request the public to change from online use to local Pharmacies. Prepare
article for Newsletter - IA.
10. Health Education in Community (new): 1. Future article topics for inclusion in Parish magazines may include:
A. Cervical Screening - PG, B. Immunisation Update - FL, C. Surgery Services - later, D. Minor Operations -
later, E. other Screening Programmes - later, F. Young People (5-25yrs) Issues - later. 2. Changes to Community
Health Champions publication by DHC (available in Surgery), which covered Tandridge, Redhill and Godstone should
be advised to FL - GTS.
11. East Surrey PPG Network and Surrey Health Watch: All relevant material from Oct and Nov publications
were emailed to all PPG members.
12. Facebook, etc: Seek individual with Facebook interest and experience to maintain website.
13. Next meeting: Wed 8th Jan 2024.
14. AOB: None.