Patient Group Minutes

Meeting: Monday 9th June, 2025, 6pm to 7:30pm

In attendance

For the Practice: Ravi Iyer (RI)

For the PPG: Melanie McInerney (MM - Chair), Simon Bull (SB), Rosie Claxton (RC), Caro Cluskey (CC), Jackie Giltrow (JG), Tony Hayday (TH), Nick Thorne (NT - Secretary)

Apologies: Dr Kaushal Kansagra (KK), Dr Bridget Hopkins (BH)

1. Welcome & apologies for absence

Apologies received from KK and BH; RC will have to leave at 7pm.

2. Membership Matters

a) No new applications received
b) Agreed not to initiate any “virtual” meetings as mooted by CQC; anyone sufficiently interested can apply to join PPG

3. Actions arising from last meeting

a) Signage promoting NHS app for reordering prescriptions to be placed by prescription post box – completed
b) PPG noticeboard content approved; nothing more to add to it but will need refreshing in due course - Action by MM

4. Practice update

a) Staff changes:
- a. Georgina has been appointed as Prescribing Paramedic and will join mid-August; meanwhile Josh Smith will be available more than previously planned.
- b. Gail Prentice, Practice Nurse, will be leaving in August. Some promising applicants to replace her on a 2 days/week basis to be interviewed; Alex Medhurst has increased her time from 2 to 3 days/week.
b) Impact of new GP contract is mainly that from October Accurx will be available for medical submissions from 8am to 6:30pm; it was emphasised that with a 48-hour turnaround, this is not for urgent conditions.
c) ICB decision about finance for the proposed 2 additional consulting rooms is still awaited. - RI
d) An increase in registered patients to almost 15,500 has triggered the recently-announced 3-month pause on new registrations; notice on foyer noticeboard detailing how to register to be taken down. - RI
e) The planters securely fixed in between the building and the car park were welcomed as an appropriate method to reduce the risk of another accident to the porch.
f) CQC draft report is expected by the end of this week. Some minor issues were raised orally by the CQC team and are being addressed by the Practice. Discussion of final report at next PPG meeting. - RI
g) Repeat prescription process:
- a. The “comments” box has been restored.
- b. The ability for certain patients to track and trace availability of their prescriptions is being rolled out to certain pharmacies; JG will circulate details to members
- c. Investigating whether batch prescription renewals could be requested via the AMP website, as this is not currently possible via the NHS app - JG, RI
- h) Missed appointment statistics show some improvement in the latest quarter, from average of 13/week to 10/week; publish on noticeboard - RI

5. Digital/online issues

a) Help sessions frequency now reducing to fortnightly, reflecting demand SB
b) Announcement of changes to “Patients Know Best”, the MTW patient portal has caused concern and confusion. SB has followed this up with MTW and devised a help sheet for the practice.
c) NHS app – registration process is confusing; SB in touch with IT to simplify/clarify - SB

6. Reminders of blood tests for vulnerable patients

Reminders have been restored for those considered vulnerable due to health conditions or medications taken.

7. PCN and West Kent PPG updates

MM gave a report on these groups and emphasised some positive work and results (eg social prescribing, blood pressure tests for those unlikely to have them done otherwise)

8. Ideas for content of Autumn edition of Amherst News

a) Domino effect of delaying attendance for Nurse appointments
b) Accurx 8am to 6:30pm
c) Proposed new consulting rooms
d) “Never Too Late” smoking cessation
e) “Patients Know Best” FAQs
f) PCN website/useful links for patients (eg Social prescribing)
g) Staff changes

9. Any other business

Agreed to cover Learning From Patient Safety Events (LFPSE) at next meeting. - RI

Meeting dates for rest of 2025: 8 September (AGM) and 8 December

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