Jan. 10, 2024

Minutes

Pond Tail Surgery PPG

Minutes of Meeting

Meeting Wednesday 10th January 2024 @ 7pm, Lindley Road Community Centre:

1.

Welcome - Geoff Stone welcomed all to the fourteenth Pond Tail Surgery (PTS) PPG meeting.

2.

Attendees & Apologies – Geoff Stone, Michael Swain, John Buck, Huw Williams, Alan White, Ian Smith, Alan Brindle and Fran Lemanska, Dr. Ed Tang from PTS and Ifesi Anyamene from Godstone Pharmacy.

Jackie Clarke, Suzanna Zizeck, Rahul Tangirala were not in attendance.

3.

Meeting Minutes & Agenda – GS confirmed that meeting minutes will be issued within a week of the meeting and the agenda will be issued 3 days prior to the meeting.

4.

PPG Terms of Reference & Purpose – Discussion was held led by GS as to whether the terms of reference for the PPG required minor change; namely 1. Improve communication between patients, PTS, and the wider public, 2. Better understand patient issues and experiences generally, 3. Promote health education for patients, 4. Review patients’ surveys, 5. Define Improvement Plan (with actions for service improvement), 6. Regularly adjust Improvement Plan.

General comments – Lessons learned, improving communications and improving patients’ experiences were suggested as being of prime importance.

5.

PPG Newsletter - Alban highlighted that the PPG email address is included in the newsletter. AB will share login details. There was some discussion as to the importance of the newsletter. It was agreed that there is considerable scope for digital communication with patients, particularly through the NHS App, but non-digital through a hardcopy newsletter is irreplaceable for a considerable portion of the patient community that has no digital access and also as a reference sheet. It was agreed that the next newsletter should go out shortly to help communicate the new digital triage system being implemented by the PTS shortly (see section 8). The list of doctors will be included in the next newsletter.

6.

Newsletter Distribution – GS to investigate Bletchingley Parish magazine as a further outlet for PPG content as well as The Godstone newsletter. MS will investigate Nutfield Link. GS will join the Newsletter Group.

7.

Recruitment – Candy was investigating Oxted School and East Surrey College as sources of recruitment for younger members. PTS will target students on the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme as a possible avenue for recruitment. Newsletter Group (GS, AB, CE, etc) will meet to review way forward for recruitment.

8.

PTS Surgery Update - Fran advised that the Digital triage system is now up and running for patients with staff available on the phone to assist patients without online access or skills to complete the form. The online forms are reviewed by a health professional with any uncertainty on the correct course of action referred to a GP for review. The new system enables improved allocation of resources in the surgery and is helping with continuity of patient care wherever possible.

Dr Ali was in post at the surgery which is fully staffed with 5 GPs. Names of GPs will be included in the next newsletter.

Training of staff was completed in late 2023, regular staff rota is ongoing with an improved team.

Fran highlighted that there is a requirement for NHS App ambassadors to help patients use online services and set up same with training given. AS, IS and GS volunteered for same.

Other building space is now occupied by clinical staff.

The services of an interior design (offered for free) will look at décor options. The cost and implementation plan will be defined depending on when a move to the new facility on two levels (subject to Godstone Quarry development planning approval) is anticipated.

The next National NHS Survey will be held in April-May for publication in August 2024.

Health Champions work has continued within the practice creating a leaflet highlighting clubs available for patients to access/join. Following the marketing manager’s sign off, it will be available in hard copy and added to the practice website, target February. Add leaflet details in next newsletter and magazines.

9.

Surgery Website - Fran advised that she has limited ability to post documents to the website such as the PPG newsletter.

10.

Pharmacy & Prescriptions – Both flu and Covid boosters are available (Covid over 65 & clinical at-risk groups only). IN was investigating the expansion of the delivery service to patients, particularly housebound, etc.

11.

Facebook – It was agreed that the facebook page may go dormant for an undefined period as the newsletter is posted on various parish sites but it will be retained for possible future use.

12.

Next meeting - Wed 13th March 2024.

13.

AOB – N/A.