Download PPG Minutes April 2012 - Portland Medical Practice

Meeting of the Patient Participation Group
6.30 p.m. Thursday 26th April, 2012
Apologies for Absence
Present
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed off by the Chairman.
Welcome
Peter C welcomed a new member.
Clinical Commissioning Group
The notes on Dr Hindocha’s presentation about the Clinical Commissioning Group will be circulated with
these minutes.
Early Presentation of Cancer, Lung Cancer Campaign
The campaign will run from the 8th May to the end of June. Carolyn has received an email from Bonnie
Cottrel offering to come in to the surgery, she will contact Bonnie to see if she would like to come along
during the National Lung Cancer Campaign.
Dr Hindocha explained that;
 smoking is a critical factor in lung cancer but it is not the focus of this campaign;
 lung cancer is the biggest killer in this country;
 the campaign is aimed at the 25 – 55 age group;
 patients are seeking medical help too late for successful treatment;
 the focus of the campaign is patients who have had a cough for three weeks or longer, or who have
a hoarse voice;
Ann is getting a display together for the month of June. It was suggested that when the practice receives
posters and related material these should be displayed on the PPG board. The recent bowel cancer
display resulted in an increase in related patient consultations and in the number of urgent referrals that
followed on from those consultations.
There will be a meeting of the PPG on Thursday 10th May to finalise the PPG involvement in this campaign.
Did Not Attends
The number of ‘Did Not Attends’ for March was 175. The number seems to have levelled out and it is
proving difficult to reduce it further despite the notices on display in the waiting area. The practice cannot
adopt the system used by dentists, where patients are removed from the list if they miss an appointment
without prior notification. Some warning letters have recently been sent out to patients who have missed
three or more appointments in the last six months
David felt that the large television screen, which will be situated in the waiting area and will display
information, will be more successful than the jx board or notices in attracting the attention of patients.
Report on Action Plan Resulting from PRG Survey
The Action Plan resulting from the PRG Survey will be distributed next month to PRG members for their
comments. A copy of the Action Plan will be attached to the minutes of this meeting when they are
distributed. The Action Plan is also available on the PPG website. Nigel is trying to improve the link
between the Practice and PPG websites.
Any Other Business
Clinical Commissioning Group Pamphlet
Dr Hindocha distributed the last of the introductory pamphlets for the Lincolnshire West Clinical
Commissioning Group to the PPG members for completion.
Patient Complaint
John told the meeting that a patient complaint concerning the attitude of a particular receptionist was still
not resolved to the patient’s satisfaction. David offered to contact the patient to arrange a time and place to
discuss their concerns.
Patient – Receptionist Interaction
Shirley told the group that during her last visit to the surgery she was pleased to hear Gemma inform the
waiting patients that there would be a half hour delay in appointment times.
Sandra will go into the surgery the week after next and chat to the receptionists before putting a piece in
the next newsletter highlighting the running of a surgery from the receptionists’ point of view. Dr Hindocha
thought that the receptionists would be pleased to have their viewpoint expressed.
Improving Communication with Polish Patients
Shirley is trying to get one of the Polish taxi drivers she knows to agree to come into the surgery to help us
to improve our contact with the Eastern European patients. We have made several attempts previously
without much success.
Date of the Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 10th May,2012 at 6.30 p.m.