Nov. 11, 2024

Agenda

1. Welcome and Apologies
2. Approval of previous minutes
3. Items for discussion
   3.1) Call for new committee members
   3.2) Practice update Dr Winter leaving
   3.3) Practice update Mark Dodds leaving
   3.4) Afternoon closures at Churchinford and Dunkeswell
   3.5) Communication for patients lacking mobile or internet access
4. Any Other Business
5. Location, date and time of next meeting

Minutes

Minutes of PPG meeting @ 4pm Monday Nov 11th 2024 Hemyock Surgery

 

Present

Mark Dodds (Practice Manager) MD

Margaret Stocks MS

Ken Pearson KP

Heather Stallard HS

Alex Price-Alexander A P-A

Nigel Hurst NH

Apologies: None

 

1)    Welcome by MD

2)    Minutes of May 30th 2024 approved

3)    Items for discussion

3.1) Call for new committee members – MD reported that 45 patients who had previously expressed interest were contacted, of these 17 replied and approved continuing contact from PPG but none accepted invitation to attend PPG meeting.

The PPG  agreed –

·         MD agreed to draw up ‘hit list’ of key topics to draw to patients attention and to obtain their feedback about the practice

·         A notice about these topics to be written up for circulation to patient population (No Cttee member identified to perform this task)

·         List of contact points* needs to be drawn up and used to publish the notice and to invite feedback.

·         Please would all committee members contribute to compiling this list. (PPG secretary is happy to receive suggestions and to compile the list)

3.2) Dr Winter is retiring  - there was  discussion about number of patient contact sessions to be filled.  MD reported recruitment has been difficult but finally successful.

3.3) Mark Dodds has resigned for family reasons and his replacement has been recruited. He will probably leave in January.

3.4) MD reported on the reasons for reduction in clinic time at Churchinford (now AM only 5days/week) and Dunkeswell -  these include difficulty recruiting suitably qualified staff and financial pressures, especially rise in minimum wage and employers National Insurance increase. (Watch this space!)

3.5) MD reported that 94% of patients can be contacted by mobile/text or email and practice is doing what it can to reach the remaining 6%. PPG understood the barriers.

4)    AOB

4.1) The committee expressed their thanks for Mark’s support and their good wishes for the future.

4.2) NH asked whether partners had any special clinical interests they would like to be made known, and if there was scope for inter-practice referrals.  MD explained that partner’s current preference was for generalist consultations.

4.3) There was brief discussion about inadequacy of the messaging facility in the NHS Blackdown Practice website.

 

DONM – Not agreed – to be finalised once new Manager in place

 

5)    Meeting closed 5.30pm

 

*Parish magazines, parish clerks (? 39), Watsapp and Facebook pages.