If you would like to have more of a say about how our Practice is run, you are welcome to join our Patient Partnership Group. The group meets every 2-4 months and is chaired by a patient representative.
Please see the notice board in the waiting room for details or ask at reception.
THE NEWTHORPE MEDICAL CENTRE
PATIENT PARTNERSHIP GROUP
NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19 November 2012
PRESENT: 7 patient representatives, 3 staff members and Michael Ellis (Stakeholder Engagement Manager – PCT)
APOLOGIES: available from the practice manager
Michael Ellis joined the meeting as he was unable to attend our last meeting. He is the Stakeholder Engagement Manager for Nottinghamshire PCT and is based in Arnold. He explained that his role is to engage the public to encourage more involvement with the commissioning cycle. He has been the person arranging the Voice for Health Meetings. Michael is interested in any ideas for events to help with engaging the public. He can assist with publicising meetings and promotion. The PPG is encouraged to network and plan but Michael is happy to help with anything. He can be contacted via email – Michael.Ellis@nottspct.nhs.uk .
1. Notes and matters Arising from last meeting:
Flu vaccine delivery delays now sorted and stocks due to arrive before end of November. Clinic dates sorted for early December.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening – the new service available to male patients in the year they turn 65 years of age. AAA screening is a simple ultrasound test. Patients can self-refer. Men over the age of 65 years can request a scan by contacting their local screening programme. Some sessions are to be held at The Newthorpe Medical Centre beginning in December.
2. Voice For Health Report – PPG Chair
Our PPG Chair attended the Voice for Health meeting presented by Samantha Walters of NNECCG. The main points from the meeting were:
· Any dissatisfaction with services should be reported to NNECCG or to The Newthorpe Medical Centre
· The patient representative at the CCG Forum meetings can also take opinions
· Feedback on the website is requested – please review the site at www.nottinghamnortheastccg.nhs.uk
· Free nhs healthchecks are available for all patients between the ages of 40 years and 74 years.
· Free loft insulation is still available to help all patients reduce their energy bills
· To help with demand on services and to help reduce NHS costs it is important that patients choose the right point of service and make sure they ‘choose well’ ie A&E and 999 services should be for emergency and life-threatening conditions only. Patients can access a range of NHS services and should follow the order below:
o self- care
o NHS Direct
o advice from local pharmacy
o GP
o Out of Hours Service
o A&E and 999
· NHS Nottinghamshire County would welcome patients to become members of the NHS Nottinghamshire County’s Health Forum to ‘Take a Healthy Interest’ to help shape our local NHS. Information attached.
· A new telephone texting service ‘FLO’ is being piloted in our area by the Diabetic Specialist Nurse. However, at the moment we have not adopted this service as our GPs prefer to see patients in person or talk to them on the telephone rather than deal with text messages.
Discussion took place around the points raised. A concern was raised about the growth of private companies in the NHS and ‘cherry picking’ which services the private sector offer to the NHS. Complex cases are still referred to NHS hospital services.
3. NNECCG – service user consultation for Safeguarding Adults
Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) is a a board of senior managers across social care, emergency services and health care who regularly meet about vulnerable adults within Nottinghamshire. The NSAB was set up in 2008, though meetings have been held since 2001. The main job of NSAB is to work together to help vulnerable adults who may have been abused and also to help stop vulnerable adults being abused. Their policy and procedures for Safeguarding Adults is about to be updated and they are asking as many people as possible within Nottinghamshire to have their say about the changes. More details are available on their website.
The website link for this is http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/caring/adultsocialcare/backgroundsupport/safeguardingadults/nottinghamshire-safeguarding-adults-board/
4. NNECCG – patient and public representative application
If anyone is interested in submitting an application to work with the NNECCG as a patient and public representative details of this are available from the practice manager.
5. Patient Questionnaire – consider priorities
Due to time issues it was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting.
6. Carers Clinic – dates booked for January, February and March
7. Message in a bottle
This is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location – the fridge. Whilst it is focused on the more vulnerable people in our community, anyone can have an accident at home, so the scheme could benefit everyone. Lions Clubs International have set up the project and supplies of the forms and bottles are obtainable from them. The PPG agreed funding from the ‘book club’ monies could be used to purchase the bottles
8. AOB – new staff
The current practice manager is leaving the practice at the end of January due to family commitments. Interviews are to be held shortly for a new Practice Manager. We also have a vacancy for a receptionist and applications are currently being received.
Date of next meeting
Monday 14th January at 6pm