Patient Group Minutes

Meeting: Monday 17th March 2025 - 6pm to 7.30pm

In attendance

For the Practice: Ravi Iyer (RI), Dr Kaushal Kansagra (KK)

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

Apologies: Rosie Claxton (RC)

1. Welcome & apologies for absence

Apologies received from RC

2. Membership Matters

NT was welcomed back to the Group 3 expressions of interest in joining the PPG had been received; none had yet progressed to a firm application

3. Actions arising from last meeting

a) JG’s redraft of the AMP website page ‘How to order a repeat prescription’ hasn’t been progressed. RI to address urgently

b) Prescription postbox needs signage advertising NHS app / NHS online ordering

c) Content on the PPG noticeboard to be moved to the lobby

d) Noticeboard content to be reviewed whenever PPG members are in the practice and quarterly 5 minutes before the PPG meeting

e) Thanks were expressed to SB for the considerable time he has spent providing information and help with the NHS app / online. There has been an increase in usage. SB is happy to continue including U3A presentations

f) CC was thanked for the recent newsletter. Newsletter to be 6-monthly, Spring and Autumn. Next issue target after 8 Sep PPG meeting; non-urgent content can be drafted before.

4. Practice update

Dr Cheesman will return from maternity leave at the end of April, at which point her locum Dr Kandel will leave

Mark Johnson, Paramedic Practitioner, will leave at the end of April; Josh Smith will increase his hours until he leaves at the end of May. Advertising for permanent replacement, either by a Nurse Practitioner or Paramedic, this week

AMP has registered as a Veteran Friendly GP Practice; there are currently 23 known UK military veterans on the books

The practice awaits full details of the recently announced funding contract for the new financial year, starting April 2025. The impact on services is currently unclear, but an update will be given at the next meeting

Net growth of patients on the books (averaging approximately 300/year over the past 3 years), foreseeable further growth (eg from 950 new homes at Sevenoaks Quarry) and 92% usage of existing consulting rooms have led to planning 2 additional consulting rooms in the original, front waiting area and seeking funding for them from the Tarmac S.106 agreement via the Integrated Care Board

Options to reduce the risk of another accident at the front porch are under consideration

5. Liaison roles updates

a) CC had met with the enthusiastic nursing team; she will keep in touch with Rebecca Adams by email as required and meet in person with the team annually. She will highlight in the next newsletter the issue of patients arriving late for appointments and its knock-on effects

b) TH had found with the Reception team that SB’s IT help seemed to be reducing the volume of phone calls

c) In NT’s absence, MM had had a useful meeting with Andrea Gauntlett; she will maintain the liaison rôle with Admin

6. Practice data

It was agreed to publish on the noticeboard and newsletter Friends & Family survey results and monthly missed appointments as a percentage of total appointments

7. Any other business

Saturday coverage was discussed. Almost no patients use the Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells GP service, most go to the Sevenoaks Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre either directly or via 111 or wait until Monday. There is no intention to provide a Saturday service at AMP

Next meeting will include presentation/discussion of what the PCN does and how it and the Practice interrelate; MM to contact PCN Manager/ Clinical Director. Possible subject for newsletter

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

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