Download MINUTES OF THE 44th COALFIELD FORUM MEETING 20th JANUARY 2014

MINUTES OF THE 44th COALFIELD FORUM MEETING 20th
JANUARY 2014 HERRINGTON MEDICAL CENTRE
APOLOGIES: Norma Bright, Colin Calder, Dorothy Simpson,
Harry Brown, Janice Collier.
PRESENT: Malcolm Eves, Kathleen Turnbull, Margaret and
Brian Doyle, Geoff Armstrong (Westbourne M.C.).
Karen Copeland (Chair in Colin’s absence), Brian Nelson
(Houghton M.C.).
Mary Buston (Kepier M.C.).
Margaret Dunn, Anne Farrow (Herrington M.C.).
Dorothy Elliott (Grangewood M.C.).
Gladys McKillup (Hetton M.C.).
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING/MATTERS ARISING:
The minutes were accepted as a true record.
Houghton MIU. There continues to be bewilderment from
Members that the procurement process was taking so long so
that the MIU may not open until September. At the last
meeting the Daily Mail article placing Sunderland Hospital 3rd
bottom nationally for avoidable deaths was discussed. Aileen
had disputed the figures and members wondered if any
updated stats were available.
PRIORITIES FOR CONSIDERATION:
The main focus of the meeting was to determine our priorities
for discussion in the short term i.e. patient issues in the
Coalfield area. Members wondered if there was a difference of
purpose from one GP patient group to another.
There were several projects in the CCG’s Plan on a Page which
could be our focus areas e.g. the Care Homes Programme, same
day access to GP services, community/district nursing teams
review, mental health provision, obesity and dementia diagnosis.
After much discussion it was agreed that we should
concentrate on two issues:
1. The multidisciplinary approach to care homes. The
Coalfield area had a pilot project running which, if
successful, would be extended to other localities and
members felt we should monitor it closely.
2. Community/district nursing reviews. Nursing services in
our area had been severely affected by the changes to the
method of allocation and members wanted to receive regular
updates.
CCG UPDATES: How often should we receive these? Members
wanted to be kept in touch with what was happening but
desired also that there was time for group discussion away
from CCG updates. It was agreed that, if she was available, Dr
Jackie Gillespie, as the representative for our area, would be
asked to attend each meeting and at our next gathering
provide a general update and information on progress for our
two focus areas. On alternate sessions the spotlight would be
on our chosen topics with time set aside for members to report
back from their GP patient group meetings on progress as it
affected their practices.
All CCG reps would be invited to the next meeting.
AOB: Brian Nelson reported he was involved in a Queens
University research project which would let him see another
CCG at work. Karen raised the issue of two older carers being
called to their surgery in relation to vitamin D deficiency and
epilepsy medications. Lastly members queried the giving of
invalidity badges to obese patients.
NEXT MEETING: 6pm Monday 24th February at Herrington
Medical Centre.