maple surgery

patient participation group

minutes for the ordinary meeting of 27 February 2013 (HTML Version)

Attendance

Executive Committee Members: Patricia Daniels (PD), John Doland (JD), Doris Halls (DoH), David Harper (DaH), Joyce Jarvis (JJ), Nick Martensz (NM), Josephine Powell (JP), Chris Stannard (CS), L.M. Stockman (LMS)

Emilio Ceraudo (EC) was absent with apologies.

Surgery Representatives: Dr Gysbert Fourie (DrGF)

Trish Hawitt Palmer (THP) was absent with apologies.

Surgery report

DrGF confirmed that the Acorn Partnership had been unsuccessful in their bid to continue to provide primary healthcare services in Bar Hill. The new provider, Malling Health Ltd., formally takes over on 6 April 2013.

JD asked whether DrGF could explain why the Acorn Partnership's bid had been unsuccessful. DrGF said that the Acorn Partnership had very little information about the decision-making process, but they had been told that the decision had been made on the basis that Malling Health Ltd. had submitted the most cost-effective bid. DrGF wasn't able to comment when asked whether this meant it was the cheapest bid.

JD then asked whether any of the current doctors would transfer over to Malling Health Ltd.. DrGF replied that since two of the GPs were partners with the Acorn Partnership, they could not transfer to Malling Health Ltd.. He did not know what the remaining GPs would do.

When asked about the nurses, DrGF said that they had not yet been contacted by Malling Health Ltd. about their future with the surgery.

Finally, JD asked whether Malling Health Ltd. had contacted the Acorn Partnership about arranging a transition period. DrGF said that this had not yet happened.

JD thanked DrGF on behalf of the Committee. DrGF then left the meeting.

Discussion

JD suggested that the patient representatives who served on the selection committee be invited to explain their decision to award the contract to Malling Health Ltd.. CS said that confidentiality would probably prevent them from saying anything. DaH said that he had made a Freedom of Information request for all documents relating to the selection but hadn't heard anything yet. He was not prepared to take 'no' for an answer and would pass on any information he received.

JD thought it odd that Malling Health Ltd. had yet to contact the Acorn Partnership, particularly since the handover of services was less than six weeks away. CS pointed out that under TUPE guidelines, Malling Health Ltd. must contact existing maple surgery staff at least four weeks before the new contract is to begin.

PD asked if representatives from the St. Neots PPG were going to attend the March meeting. DaH said that the invitation was open to them but that he could re-issue it. CS suggested that the Committee wait to see if it is even going to be in existence in April. DaH remarked that looking around the Malling Health Ltd. web site showed that a number of their other practices had PPGs. He thought that there were several possible outcomes:

• The PPG will continue in its present form.
• The PPG will be disbanded in favour of a patient reference group (PRG) or some other patient group.
• The PPG will be disbanded and reformed at a later date.

PD asked what it cost to hire the TNT Room and was told it was currently £15 although the price was being reviewed and may go up slightly. She said that she'd be willing to pay £1.50 or £2.00 if everyone else was in order to hire the room privately for an April meeting. There was general agreement that this might be a good idea.

Action: Deferred.

DaH brought up the question of how we wish to approach Malling Health Ltd.. What is the best way to introduce ourselves and who do we contact? He proposed going directly to the top to the directors in Kent. The email or letter should

• introduce the Executive Committee of the PPG:
  • tell them what we do
  • Health Awareness Events
  • Health Walks
  • informational leaflets
  • send the URL of the PPG web site where they can get more information about the Committee's work
• find out if the current PPG/Executive Committee is going to be continued and supported;
• elicit information about Malling Health Ltd. and their intentions;
• ask if Malling Health Ltd. plans to hold a public meeting (as the Acorn Partnership did in 2010) and offer to assist.

Action: DaH will put together an email/letter and circulate it for comment before sending it.

Approval of minutes and matters arising

The minutes from the meeting of 30 January 2013 were approved.

Local activities leaflet

LMS thanked DoH for sending updated information to be included in the local activities leaflet. The new leaflet is available at the web site.

Any other business

LMS said that there were a number of documents relating to Malling Health Ltd. on the PPG web site, including Quality and Outcomes Framework scores and PPG meeting minutes for many of their other practices.

Next meeting

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

The next ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the PPG will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 27 March 2013, in the TNT Room at Bar Hill Church. Tea and coffee will be served before the meeting, from 6:00 p.m.

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