Feb. 1, 2023

Minutes

Old Forge Surgery Patient Participation Group

Meeting to be held on Wednesday 22nd February 2023

4-5pm

AGENDA

Agenda No

Item

Comments

Apologies for absence

Minutes from previous meeting / matters arising

Practice update

Practice Team update:

• Jade Hetherington: Care Coordinator – In attendance, introduction:

My job role includes updating the patient engagement boards in the waiting area. Currently running monthly campaigns along with the NHS calendar of events.

My work includes working with patients to ensure they are seen by the correct clinicians and that appointments/follow ups have been arranged. I will support the practice in arranging appointments for long term condition reviews.

Patient Survey

Survey focus each quarter will be different i.e.

1st quarter – appointments

2nd quarter – environment

3rd quarter - patient information available

4th quarter - cleanliness.

The survey will be sent out to patients via text message or email, there will also be a paper copies available in reception for any patients who wish to complete one.

The target audience will be 200 patients per survey and this will be split into 4 age brackets

and 50 random patients from each bracket will be sent the survey to complete.

Letters will be sent out to patients if the patient does not have a mobile telephone number, email address or if they prefer a paper copy of the survey.

• Receptionist: recently recruited a new Receptionist, Verity has been with us over 1 month and is making excellent progress.

• Staff board in waiting room has been updated to reflect new practice team.

Teaching & Mentor Update:

• Registrars: Dr Donald, Dr Llewellyn - clinics started

• Medical Students: Year 3's & Year 4's – clinics started

• Intention to continue to support both students and registrars going forwards

Campaign update:

• Smear walk-in clinic 10th March 2023. Teamed up with the local Nursery Dawn Till Dusk who have kindly offered free childcare to any lady needing it to allow attendance at clinic.

• Spring campaign – we are expecting to take part in the spring campaign offering covid vaccinations from the practice. Very few details confirmed at present.

• Flu campaign update, have experienced good uptake this year, likely to be a result of conducting 'joint' clinics.

Operational update:

• Patients consulted with face to face: practice 74.4%, CCG average 68.5%

• Patients consulted with via telephone: practice 22.5%, CCG average 28.8%

• Patients consulted with GP: practice 47.9%, CCG 46.7%

E-consult data Jan 2023 data

Patient Engagement:

• Regional Media Campaign: ICB campaign 'Here to Help' which includes promotional materials (posters/social media) to educate patients about care navigation and the ways in which they can contact the surgery (NHS App, e-Consult etc). Our practice team is taking part by being photographed for inclusion on the posters

• Practice Logo: negative feedback received to the practice regarding current logo. PPG open to new logo, hope to see one that reflects the history of the building ie forge.

• Practice related patient improvements: Discussed Radio Link Fund have funds to make improvements that benefit the patients within the practice. We agreed to focus on patient toilets and car park bays.

• Friends & Family Feedback: The figures for the December Friends and Family responses are:

Total responses: 139

Very Good

104

Good

Neither Good/Poor

Poor

Very Poor

Suggestions box/feedback/F&S to create a 'You Said, We Did (where possible).

Community Paramedic Update:

R York – Community Paramedic – In attendance. Ritchie gave a comprehensive update of the service, who they are, what they do and performance statistics.

Angela Seward: Chair of PRG in attendance:

Angela gave a very comprehensive update of recent changes to the NHS, commissioning body and PCN. Angela described her experience in her role was for 4 years as the Chair of the Durham Dales PRG - but now, the 4 PRGS - Durham Dales, Sedgefield, Easington and North Durham - no longer meet as separate groups, but, under the new way of working, all meet together monthly, as the Durham Countywide PRG. These meetings can be via Teams, or F2F.

Angela went on to explain about the Teesdale PCN that there are 6 practices in our Teesdale PCN - Old Forge, Barnard Castle, Gainford, Pinfold, Woodview and Evenwood - and we also need representation from our practice on this group. This is a requirement of the LIAISE Scheme, that we all have representation here. Angela had some helpful documents that she offered to share via email.

Challenges:

Staffing challenges – winter viruses

Any other business:

NM asked what the practice's position was in terms of patients presenting with minor injuries. SM explained that the practice used to hold a contract for minor injury with the CCG but that the contract had been removed approximately 5 years ago. Therefore, patients are directed to Bishop Auckland Hospital where the service is commissioned.

Date of meetings - set and shared for the coming 12 months:

4-5pm

22nd Feb 2023

31st May 2023

30th August 2023

29th November 2023