Patient Participation Group

GP surgeries have a responsibility to involve patients in relevant issues relating to the practice and to respond appropriately to patients’ views and experiences.

GP practices also have a duty to engage with their patients in order to enable the Governing Body of the ICB to make commissioning decisions that reflect the needs, priorities and aspirations of the local population.

Patient Participation Group Update

Following the major disruption to the operation of the Surgery and Patient Participation Group it was thought that we may try to get back to some sort of normality. With that in mind we would like to kick start the Patient Participation Group into action.

A meeting was convened between the Patient Participation Group (BG, AH) and the practice manager (BM) to discuss the way forward with regard to the interaction of the Patient Participation Group and the practice.

The following was agreed.

The Patient Participation Group shall provide a sounding board for suggestions and ideas for improvement for the practice. A suggestions box will be introduced in the waiting room.
The Patient Participation Group will discuss areas of concern raised by patients but shall not discuss individual cases.
The Patient Participation Group will discuss communication issues and agree strategies and actions to progress through regular newsletters, (hard copy and digital), Facebook, the web site and where viable via email
Attendance at the regional Patient Participation Group Network Meetings by a member of the practice and/or Patient Participation Group, shall be provided and feedback discussed. The practice will support these meetings were appropriate.
General support to the Patient Participation Group shall be provided by the practice including arranging meeting rooms and dates as well as photocopying within reason.
The Chairman shall provide the agenda for Patient Participation Group meetings.

Terms of Reference

Aims of the Patient Participation Group

The aims of the Patient Participation Group are to represent the patients of the Ansdell Medical Centre by working in conjunction with the GP Partnership and practice staff, to improve services to patients.

Who are the Patient Participation Group?

The Patient Participation Group comprises both patients and practice staff, and meets at least bi-monthly. The role is unpaid and on a voluntary basis. There is no specific duration or contract.

It is involved in discussing with the practice what priorities it should set, undertaking surveys of patient opinion, and generally improving the experience at the Surgery.

The Patient Participation Group is open to all patients who are over 16 years old and are registered at the practice.

Objectives of the Patient Participation Group

Act as an advisory group providing perspectives and concerns from patients that can influence how services operate, how accessible they are, and how suitable they are for the patients.
To monitor complaints, concerns and compliments received about the practice
Review and, where appropriate, provide advice and recommendations on any surveys or patient consultations agreed with the Practice
To act as a consultative group for any changes proposed within the practice
To advise the practice on how to improve communications with patients in the most beneficial ways
To provide a forum for patients where they will have the opportunity to collaborate with the practice and provide a patient perspective;
To promote the wellbeing of patients and support the practice to provide a high quality of care and service delivery; and
To enable, where appropriate, patients to influence local healthcare services by providing a mechanism for the input of information relating to health commissioning priorities.
Facilitate debate among local residents and workers concerning health needs, health priorities and current service provision.

Membership of the Patient Participation Group

The membership of the Patient Participation Group, where possible, will include:

Patient representatives
GP partner
Practice manager and/or a representative from the practice team
Other members of the practice staff and third parties may also be invited to attend meetings as and when appropriate

The Patient Participation Group is open to all patients who are over 16 years old and are registered at the practice

Patient members do not need to represent other interest groups but efforts will be made to ensure the group is representative of the patient population in terms of age, sex, ethnic minority etc

Patient Participation Group Members should endeavour to attend all meetings

If a member is unable to attend a meeting they should offer their apologies ahead of the meeting. Non-attendance of three consecutive meetings may result in a request for resignation.

If a group member is disruptive or uncooperative they will be asked to resign by the chairperson or vice chairperson.

A Chair and Vice Chair will be elected from the group every twelve months

One third of the membership – or a minimum of 4 people – shall form a quorum at meetings

Dependencies

To enable the Patient Participation Group to meet these objectives it will be necessary for the Practice to;

Provide the necessary information on complaints, concerns, compliments, surveys and proposed changes
(This information should be provided at least one week in advance of the Patient Participation Group meeting to enable the group to act accordingly)
Provide a suitable room for meetings
Provide the facility to print/ photocopy materials for meetings
Take forward issues and recommendations from the Patient Participation Group and supply the responses as a result
Keep the Patient Participation Group informed of service developments
Provide administrative support, as needed and by agreement, to the Chair/Vice Chair

Meetings

Meetings will be held at least bi-monthly on a Wednesday afternoon 5pm to 6:30pm

Meetings will have an agenda and minutes. Dates and minutes of meetings will be publicised on the practice website and in the practice waiting areas.

Any member of the group who is unable to attend should send apologies to the Chair/Vice Chair prior to the meeting.

The GP attending will, where practicable, present news of developments within the practice, ask for support with initiatives, and any address issues raised by the Patient Participation Group.

Minutes of the meeting will be distributed within 10 working days of the meeting.

Patient Participation Group Network Meeting

One group member will commit to attendance at this regional meeting on the third Monday in the month, from 2pm to 4pm, meeting bi-monthly If no group member available the Practice Manager will attend if available.

All members will be expected to respect rules of confidentiality and not discuss personal or sensitive information outside a meeting. No aspect of any individual patient will be discussed.

Latest PPG Minutes

Date: 1st May 2024
Participants: Kurtis R (Chair), Anne W (Notes), Jen W, Josie V, Sue D, Sue H, Bev M
Apologies: Ben H, Ryan F, Winnie D, Jill H-S-B

Welcome and introduction

In the absence of Ann H, Kurtis took the chair and welcomed Sue H as a new member to the group.

Minutes of last meeting

Minutes of the last meeting agreed and accepted.

Matters arising

All matters dealt with.

The planned event with the Member of Parliament is postponed.

Ansdell Medical Centre application to apply for membership of NAPP has been agreed by the partners. This now needs to be signed for.

It was agreed that Pauline, Operations Manager, should be invited to the next meeting. - Action Bev

Comments and suggestions from patients

Only three of the new patient suggestion forms that Pauline provided have been completed.

Comments – Brilliant, Fab, Excellent.

Patient reviews on Google, both positive and negative are always responded to with helpful explanations and /or an invitation to get in touch and discuss.

Some feedback forms asking specific questions would be useful. Kurtis agreed to design these.

The GPs could be asked to hand these forms to patients following a consultation. - Action Kurtis

Suggestions for feedback could be put on the website. - Action Kurtis

Communication Matters

Ann H joined the meeting.

Ann was able to give an update on news from the PPG network.

There was some discussion about the increasing financial pressures facing the practice.

Among other matters some of the funding for certain aspects of management is no longer available.

The speculation that 51% of GP surgeries would close, needed unravelling.

Members of the PPG network are to meet with Dr. A. Janjua on June 10th in Bickerstaffe House in Blackpool when he will address specific issues. Ansdell PPG members may be able to attend this meeting if a large enough room is located. Ann will inform Ansdell PPG members as soon as she is able. - Action Ann

Ann has attached her mini-report from the last PPG Network meeting to these minutes.

Brief report from Ann from Network PPG Meeting 8th April 2024

With apologies! I gave a very rushed verbal-only report to PPG members at the meeting as I had arrived late and been unable to print out and provide this mini report at the Ansdell PPG meeting

This latest PPG Network meeting was particularly significant and covered a wide range of issues which the PPG Chairs from Blackpool and Fylde had raised. Full minutes tend to be produced too late for our Ansdell PPG meeting and so I have drawn up this mini-report:

Items are not in order but linked for ease of sharing.

Digital Leadership: raft of IT related problems

This matter was raised for discussion. The patients’ access to “apps” such as My GP, Patient Access, NHS App, Patches, “Evergreen” and more.

Who manages the data?

Can the PPG seek info and clarification from ICB and seek representation at ICB meetings so that we might challenge patient data, apps advice etc.

Chemist issues: also Leases by GP surgeries may not be available.

Patients are unable to follow up complaints and concerns due to Operations Manager not being “available”. Chantelle to take action re process for complaints.

New initiative – pioneering event next week in Blackpool:

Volunteering “on prescription” may be managed by Poverty Truth Commission who will provide support to patients who wish to volunteer. This initiative is already being pioneered in Blackpool Victoria Hospital. More details when full network PPG Minutes are released.

The potential 51% closure of GP surgeries: Serious financial / staffing concerns

Members present wanted to know if this was a genuine prediction or possible “scaremongering”. It was decided that the Network PPG should invite Dr Adam Janjua (who’s article had been published in national newspapers) to come and speak to us/answer questions. The details are to be firmed up, but hopefully he will speak to us at the next Network PPG meeting on 10th June. PPGs may be able to invite extra representatives to attend that meeting. TBC

CQC inspections

Around the table (about 12 GP practices were represented), no practice had been inspected more recently than 2017. PPGs are meant to be involved in such inspections. It was noted that we were not gaining access to the CQC reviews and we wondered what was happening. Why are they not being carried out? What is being held in their place.

Many other minor but interesting issues were also raised by PPG Chairs who were present at this Network Meeting. The full minutes will address these issues and I will circulate them when I receive them.

Listening table

This will take place during Patient Awareness Week on Tuesday 4th June 2024 9:30am to 12:30pm.

The set-up arrangements will be as previously. Ann, Jen, and Josie agreed to be available.

An email to be sent to all members of the group informing them of Patient Awareness Week and asking for volunteers to help on that day. - Action Ann

An agreed format for greeting patients would be useful.

Jen will draw up a protocol sheet to share with volunteers.- Action Jen

Representatives from Samaritans and Bereavement Support to be asked to attend again. - Action Josie

An invitation to attend to be sent to Just Good Friends. - Action Bev

A.O.B

Ways to promote the Listening Table event considered, e.g. website, in waiting room etc. - Action Ryan

Several other items for discussion came were suggested but because of the lateness of the hour it was decided to add them as agenda items for the next meeting.

Sue H restart time of meeting being later
Ann H re update of CQC Practice Inspections

There being no other business the meeting closed at 6:25pm.

Next Meeting

Wednesday 3rd July 2024 at 5pm

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Ansdell Medical Centre
Albany Road
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
FY8 4GW

Telephone: 01253 229520

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