Nov. 18, 2024

Agenda

Welcome and introduction.

Staff updates

Appointment updates

Surgery renovations/top floor conversion.

Computer errors at the laboratory

Use of the NHS App

Development of PPG

Immunisation Update

AOB

Next Meeting

Minutes

Welcome and introduction

Dr Chaudery thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for giving up their time to be part of the PPG. The input from the PPG has been invaluable over the past 12 months. This will be the last meeting of 2024 and partners would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and New year.

Staff updates

There have been several staff changes at Elizabeth House and the partners felt that it was important to update the PPG.

Our two 2nd year trainees are coming to the end of their placement at the practice and will be replaced by two new trainees, Dr Shrestha and Dr Abbasi.who are 1st year GP trainees. They will be with us until the end of March 2025. Once again they are fully qualified doctors who will be supported by our doctors at the practice to develop their skills in caring for patients in the community.

Michael our Pharmacy technician will no longer be based at Elizabeth House and will be working for other practices within the PCN who do not have a clinical pharmacist.

Appointment updates

We are pleased to say that the changes in our patient access to appointments have been well received by patients with a fair spread of face to face and telephone appointments, dependent on patient choice. We still find that telephone consultations are very useful for updates on blood results or medication queries. We are also encouraging patients to use the online form for digital access to the surgery.

Surgery renovations/top floor conversion.

We are pleased to announce that we have just received official approval for the top floor development to go ahead. We have a builder ready to start the work and would hope for all work to be completed by the end of March. The planned work will not affect the day to day running of the practice and any noisy work will be undertaken at the weekends.

We are hoping that hospitals outpatient consultants will be running clinics from the top floor and our patients will be able to request appointments with them rather than travel to local hospitals. It is only sensible that we offer more appointments closer to patients and prevent them from travelling to hospitals unless surgery or diagnostic procedures are required. We will let the PPG know once we have more information on this.

Computer errors at the laboratory

We have highlighted to East Surrey hospital and the ICB that we have had delayed receipt or no receipt of numerous radiology results. This is dating back to July 2024.We always advise patients to ensure that they contact the practice to be informed of their results. There is ongoing work at the hospital to rectify this issue.

We have also recently had some difficulties with blood results not being processed at the laboratory. This is putting additional workload onto the practice who are having to contact patients and arranged for new blood samples to be taken. We understand this is occurring in other practices in East Surrey and the hospital are aware and investigating this issue with their laboratory.

Use of the NHS App

Many of the PPG found the previous NHS App sessions very helpful. We will plan to run another session on Dec 9th 12.00pm for anyone who is struggling to use the app. People are reminded to bring their devices and proof of photo ID such as a passport.

Development of PPG

The practice are keen to hear from any members of the PPG who have identified any areas that the practice could focus on.

Immunisation Update

We had a very good uptake for the covid vaccine this year as the practice offered clinics for both flu and covid vaccine. We plan to run the same service next year with clinics available in the week and at weekends from the beginning of October 2025.

If any PPG member missed the clinic run for them in October then we are running a final clinic on Thursday Nov 21st.Please contact reception to book an appointment.

AOB

The practice are happy to support the PPG who are kindly organising a Christmas event at the church on Tuesday Dec 17th 12.00-2.00pm. Pam will be sending out more information on this closer to the date.

Next Meeting - February 2025