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| 2012 |
Executive Committee Members: Emilio Ceraudo (EC), Patricia Daniels (PD), John Doland (JD), Doris Hall (DoH), David Harper (DaH), Joyce Jarvis (JJ), Josephine Powell (JP), L.M. Stockman (LMS)
Chris Stannard (CS) was absent with apologies.
Terri Pope (TP) resigned.
Surgery Representatives: Jenny Moyes (JM)
The minutes from the meeting of 18 July 2012 were approved, pending a minor correction. JD was acting chairman.
DoH produced a list of activities listed in the most recent edition of the Bar Hill News and LMS passed around copies of a prototype leaflet. There was considerable discussion of the pros and cons of such a list and what kind of activities to include. LMS confirmed that there seemed to be no 'master list' of local activities held anywhere in the village, including the Parish Council and the Residents' Association.
Action: JM will bring a copy of her village's master list of activities to show the Committee. JD will take a copy of the existing prototype leaflet to the Residents' Association with a view that that organisation should be the one producing such a list. LMS will continue to develop the existing leaflet.
It was agreed that many of the activities on the leaflet involved physical activity and might possibly be unsuitable for some patients. There was a question as to whether the surgery would ask patients whether they had any interest in joining a chronic illness support group but JM didn't think that the surgery could organise such a group. PD pointed out that such an exercise would be beyond the Committee's abilities as well. JM said that some patients wanted support and others didn't, and that there were already many support groups in place, from the local to the regional to the national level.
LMS raised the question of computer security at the surgery, particularly in light of increasing computerisation of patient records and communication. JM said that the computer system in use at maple surgery has an audit trail. Every staff member has specific computer privileges which restrict which parts of the system they can access, and only a 'super-user' such as JM can access the entire system and monitor other users' actions.
The out-of-hours clinic at Chesterton Medical Centre uses the same computer system, which allows them limited access to patient files at maple surgery but only if the patient gives their explicit permission. The same is true of the Accident and Emergency Department at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The system works in reverse too, in that the maple surgery can request test results from Addenbrooke's Hospital even if the results were ordered by clinicians at the hospital and not the surgery.
LMS also enquired about computer back-ups. JM confirmed that back-ups of patient files were made regularly and stored off-site for additional security.
Action: Jennie Moyes is making the arrangements, probably for either the October or November meeting.
DaH hopes to have had a response by the next meeting. JJ said that her husband had also written a letter in July and had received a non-committal reply.
JM reported that the staff was still learning to use the new computer system. They are putting together a system which will allow the surgery to send reminders to patients via text messaging but only for those patients who opt in to this service. So far nearly 300 patients have signed up to receive this service. There are still some technical issues to resolve and then the surgery will look at offering online appointment bookings.
Because of the uncertainty over the contract for primary health care provision in Bar Hill, it is impossible to attract salaried GPs to take up positions at maple surgery. At this time the surgery is using locum physicians and the partners are swapping shifts to provide continuity of care. The departure of Dr Tiffin means that the extended opening hours will become somewhat irregular but will be continued as they are very popular with patients. The early opening hours will be posted at the surgery.
The deadline for other health care service providers to express an interest in taking over GP services in Bar Hill is 12 September 2012.
JM suggested that in light of the current uncertainty at maple surgery it would be a good idea to postpone the next Health Awareness Event until early next year. The Committee was in unanimous agreement on this point.
LMS passed on to JM some information regarding Wallace Cancer Care in case JM wished to obtain posters or leaflets for reception. LMS also handed over a leaflet that is produced by the Oncology Department at Addenbrooke's Hospital to help patients better communicate with their doctors and nurses. The leaflet has space for patients to write down questions ahead of their appointment and also a list of tick boxes for various items of discussion, such as pain relief, difficulty with depression, problems with medication, etc. LMS suggested that a similar leaflet might be useful in the surgery for those patients with complicated medical needs. It helps the patient focus on what's important, gets them organised, and makes appointments more productive.
Action: JM will show the leaflet to the staff.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the PPG will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 September 2012, in the Octagon. Tea and coffee will be served before the meeting, from 6:00 p.m.
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