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| 2011 |
PPG Members: Brian Burrage (BB), Emilio Ceraudo (EC), Patricia Daniels (PD), David Harper (DH), Joyce Jarvis (JJ), Margaret Moffat (MM), Terri Pope (TP), Chris Stannard (CS), L.M. Stockman (LMS)
John Doland (JD) was absent with apologies.
Surgery Representatives: Dr Jonathan Graffy (DrJG), Trish Hawitt Palmer (THP)
Jenny Moyes (JM) was absent with apologies
The minutes from the meeting of 26 October 2011 were approved.
MM delivered the annual chairman's report. A few minor corrections were made and the report was accepted by the PPG.
Action: DH will submit the amended report to the Bar Hill News for inclusion in the next issue (February 2012).
THP had no news to report
Everyone agreed that the talks given during the first Health Awareness Evening on 23 November 2011 were excellent but there was considerable disappointment at the low turnout. Although there was widespread publicity in both Bar Hill and the surrounding villages (PD spent over a day distributing posters in outlying areas), BB said that it might be better to hold such events during the spring, summer or autumn when the evenings are lighter. Many people simply don't like going out on a cold, dark night. TP agreed and said in her experience, it was difficult to get people in the village to turn out for anything, let alone a medical lecture.
There was considerable discussion on how best to advertise such events in the future. THP said that the receptionists at the surgery could be more proactive in mentioning the upcoming talks to patients and in handing out leaflets. DH suggested that a few letters to the editor of the Bar Hill News, praising the quality of the talks at the first event, might also be helpful in raising awareness of future activities.
THP said it was a good learning experience that should prove useful when organising future events. PD agreed that this had been our first such talk and that it would take time to develop awareness of these gatherings. She also suggested that the PPG should offer refreshments at the next talk.
MM asked what's next? Do we organise another talk or call it a day? If we have another one, what would be the topic and who would be the target audience? Everyone agreed that we should get to work on the next talk and that it should be feasible to do up to three a year, avoiding dark winter nights. March, June and September were suggested target dates. As for topics, BB suggested that everyone think about it and submit their ideas.
THP mentioned that one of the physicians is particularly interested in mental health and the elderly, and that this might be a good topic for the next talk. DrJG was wary of doing this, however, because of the perceived stigma. However, he did suggest an alternative topic of services and care for the elderly. He is associated with a 'vulnerable people's project' and said that the organisers of that scheme might be able to participate. THP said that it might be better to hold such a talk as as afternoon tea rather than an evening talk.
Action: The next Health Awareness Evening will be a Health Awareness Tea, held on an afternoon in March on the general topic of the elderly and their care. Details will be organised at the next meeting.
Action: Deferred to the next meeting.
BB said that the visit from the Community Care Network had been interesting and informative. More information, particularly regarding hospital transport, is necessary before continuing any further.
THP asked that any receipts be passed to her or JM.
Action: DH will provide an invoice for the cost of registering the PPG's domain name.
With regret, MM must resign from the PPG due to other commitments but hopes to rejoin the PPG at a later date. Also, BB is stepping down. DH agreed to stay on as secretary. On behalf of the surgery, THP offered sincere thanks to both MM and BB for their hard work throughout the year.
With no one volunteering to serve as either chairman or vice-chairman, there was a discussion of the roles of these officers. THP suggested a rotating chairmanship where a different person agrees to chair the meeting. A PPG in St. Ives operates under such a scheme. PD agreed that this might be necessary if no one stepped up to take on the role. DrJG thought that it was important to outline what the chairman's role was exactly: running the meetings, organising events, liaising with the surgery. It might be possible to split these tasks so that the burden is reduced. DH thought that the chairman's chief function was to ensure the smooth running of the meetings and that the other tasks might be delegated.
MM suggested that it might be useful to have one of the reception staff as a permanent liaison but THP responded that most of the staff had young children and were unable to commit to attending meetings regularly.
Everyone agreed that the PPG needed to recruit more members. TP suggested an ad as opposed to a story in the Bar Hill News. DH also pointed out the need for new, up-to-date posters in the surgery. DrJG agreed, and said there should be leaflets as well.
Action: LMS will put together some posters and start an informational leaflet.
PD thanked everyone for supporting the Health Walks. The numbers are growing all the time and three other health walks have been started in the area, all following our example. There will be a training day in January for anyone wanting to become a volunteer walker. PD said that some of the other walks had receptionists as walk leaders and some of the doctors occasionally attended the walks. She asked if the surgery clinicians were referring people to the walks. THP said that the staff were not well-informed about the walks.
CS reported that he informed the church that the PPG would not be meeting in December. He also said that he spoke with a mother who was thankful that the toys had been removed from the reception area as they were a health hazard.
DrJG said he participated in a 'primary care research network' and that is might be possible to link some of the research project with the PPG.
MM said she would provide THP information regarding Wallace Cancer Care, located on Red Cross Lane near Addenbrooke's Hospital.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
The next meeting of the PPG will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 January 2012, in the Octagon. Tea and coffee will be served before the meeting, from 6:00 p.m.
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