June 10, 2024
Agenda
Smallfield Practice Health Champions
Meeting to be held on Monday 10th June 2024
1:00 to 2.00 pm
at Smallfield Surgery.
Agenda
1. Welcome and Introduction
2. Apologies for absence
3. Accuracy and Matters Arising from the last Minutes
4. Surgery update from Dr Anita Raina including proposal to rebrand PHC as PPG (Patient Participation Group) Champions
5. Report from Dr Gillian Orrow (Growing Health Together)
6. Report from Julie Gerrish, Patient Services Manager
7. Clare Webb, Wellbeing Advisor, Tandridge District Council
8. WOW coffee morning update
9. Reports from other groups, and potential new groups
10. Any Other Business and Open Forum
11. Date of Next Meeting
Minutes
Smallfield Practice Health Champions
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 10th June 2024 in
Smallfield Surgery, Smallfield
Present
Pete Hughes (chair) Helen Goudie
Stuart Mallinson Lorraine Baker
Pam Amos Carol Jordan
Clare Webb, Health and Wellbeing Advisor Robert Sills
Ruth Turner Anna Sills
Chris Turner Chris Botting
Susan Gill Claire Stevens
Heather Hagel Mary Baldock
Julie Gerrish, Patient Services Manager Richard Redgrove
Dr Anita Raina Steve Robinson
Dr T Bangalore Andrew Goudie
Jackie Turner, Operations Supervisor Judy Wilkinson (minutes)
Apologies
Beverley Dunne Anne Blackburn
Kay Hammond Sue Carey
Alison and Ian Griffiths Malcolm Cutter
John Mankelow
1. Welcome and Introduction: Pete welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies for Absence – see above.
3. Matters Arising
A reminder about the safeguarding training, a link to which had been attached to the minutes in March. A safeguarding talk will be given by Dr Bangalore via zoom on 8th July – see below.
4. Dr Raina’s presentation regarding the possible ‘rebranding’ of the Health Champions as PPG Champions
Dr Raina introduced herself and the new Operations Supervisor, Jackie Turner, who would be working with us. Dr Raina explained that she was the lead partner for the Patient Participation Group (hereafter referred to as the PPG) over the three Modality sites of Birchwood, Townhill and Smallfield. To illustrate further the role of the PPG and how what we already provide is very similar, Dr Raina then gave a slide presentation, starting with some background information regarding Modality. This is a national GP ‘super partnership’ serving more than 470 million patients across 10 regions. Dr Tom Rustom is due to give a talk on the NHS Structure in the near future.
Below are details displayed on some of the slides which Dr Raina showed to the meeting: -
What is a Patient Participation Group?
NHSE states that a Patient Participation Group is a (voluntary) group of patients registered at a practice who want to help shape and progress practice developments to make service delivery as best as it can be for patients, clinicians and team members.
Modality definition of PPG
PPG improves patient experience, communication with local community, help promote health and wellbeing, offers practical support to the practice, act as the patient voice at system level. A constructive and respectful relationship between the patients and the practice with a shared purpose.
Who forms the PPG
Any patient (over 16 years of age) interested in sharing their ideas based on their experience that can help improve the services.
Any patient who would like to feedback to the surgery from the lens of a patient.
Interest to be expressed via the Practice website or writing to the Practice.
The Role of the PPG
To be seen as a critical friend of the Practice, advising the Practice on the patient perspective and providing insight into its responsiveness and quality.
Encouraging patients to take greater responsibility for their own and their family’s health.
Carrying out research into views of those who use the practice
Organising health promotion events to improve health literacy
Ongoing communication with patient population
Activities Planner
Digital triage : New A1 based initiative with patient engagement evening for each site.
Safeguarding talk by Dr Bangalore on 8/7/24 virtually and zoom invite will be shared.
After the presentation, draft terms of reference for the PPG were handed around. Briefly, the PPG (Champions) would meet every three months in March, June, September and December, attended by a designated GP partner. All members can contribute to the Agenda. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary will be elected by the members.
The Practice Services Manager will help the PPG members to circulate the minutes to all patients through the Practice website.
A virtual PPG group is also proposed.
The minutes would be circulated to the Champions for their consideration and they would have a week to make their comments. The named Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson/Secretary can name another champion to deputise if they are unable to attend a meeting.
Smallfield PPG would be a separate entity but would combine with Birchwood and Townhill for larger talks/events.
Dr Raina and Dr Bangalore emphasized that the NHS has made it mandatory for every Practice to have a PPG. There is not a practice in England that does not have one. Therefore, as we already carry out many of the activities and roles expected of a PPG, Smallfield Surgery, along with the rest of the East Surrey Modality (Birchwood and Townhill), are proposing that a simple rebranding of our name to PPG Champions, would be the answer to this requirement.
Response from the Champions
Pete Hughes was concerned that it all sounded too corporate and bureaucratic. The Health Champions have enjoyed a certain amount of informality so far, and this was echoed by Heather who commented that we all share our work, there is no hierarchy and no leaders. Dr Raina, Dr Bangalore, Julie and Jackie reassured us that they would support the continuation of this egalitarianism and lack of formality. Concerns about champions not being members of the Surgery were also addressed, as were concerns about the discussion of personal issues at a meeting, which were definitely discouraged.
Pete Hughes proposed that we try this new ‘rebranding’ for six months. He trusted Dr Raina to maintain the spirit and culture of the Champions as she has for the last six years. Due to the need for the Surgery to have a PPG, it made sense to try it.
The following was agreed by all present. Starting in September, we become PPG Champions. After six months, if we are not happy, we revert to Practice Health Champions. Pete Hughes volunteered to be the first Chair, and Steve Robinson volunteered to be Vice Chair. The post of Secretary is currently vacant and any interested champion should contact Pete Hughes or Julie Gerrish.
Consent forms were then handed out for all Champions present to sign.
5. Online Booking System
Dr Bangalore then gave a presentation about the new Online Booking System which will be going live in July. The booking system has been put in place in order to avoid the chaos that occurs at 8.30 am every weekday with patients ringing to book an appointment. The surgery has 30,000 calls a month with 65 per cent demanding appointments. The new system will hopefully help staff and patients alike.
The Rapid Health system which has been chosen is NHS approved, no need for the patient to install it and no login necessary. It is going live on 1st July and will be available twenty four seven. Access is through the practice website : www.modalityeastsurreymedicalpractice.nhs.uk. Patients will be able to pre-book appointments up to two weeks ahead and choose face to face or telephone consultations. Follow up appointments will be made by the GP. You will receive a confirmation email when the appointment has been made. Once you have booked the appointment you can cancel or re-schedule. This is not available for the following: -
· Children under 16 years of age
· Nurse appointments or home visits
· Annual reviews.
These will stay the same, i.e. call the surgery.
Patient Access and NHS Apps also remain the same.
It was emphasized that you can still call the Surgery if you do not have online access.
6. Any Other Business
Claire Webb advised that she had given a talk at WoW recently on Ageing Well. She thought the morning was really well organized, and that the Champions do amazing work. It was really nice to see it in action and she was full of praise for the contribution that Heather and the other WoW champions make to the community.
7. Date of Next Meeting
Monday, 9th September at 1 pm in the Surgery.