Patient Group Meeting Minutes

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Annual General Meeting and usual meeting - 13th November 2024

Welcome to meeting and Annual General Meeting 

Present

• Dr Elizabeth Grigg
• Sharon Rowe
• Dr Jo Wyatt
• Ian Aldridge
• Dr Jane Armstrong
• Liz Blazey
• Kate Butler
• Phil Keenan
• Izzy Sylvester
• Margaret Tatham
• Sandra Wilson

Apologies

• Sally Payton

2 prospective new members - no further knowledge about whether they are coming.

Review last meeting minutes 08/11/2023

There were no matters arising with no corrections.

Sign off minutes

The minutes were signed as correct and to be held as the record of the meeting.

AGM Chair's Report

Firstly, I wish to thank members of the West Somerset Healthcare Patient Participation Group (PPG) committee for their support and valuable contributions over the last year.

I wish to thank Dr Jane Armstrong, our long-suffering secretary, especially for her loyal and efficient support. It’s never easy to take minutes and to contribute to meetings and Jane’s contribution is always valuable. 

We meet as a committee every three months, but in between times Jane and I meet about once a month to discuss whatever issues may be relevant to the Practice. Jane and I have also met independently of the committee with Phil and Mike Keenan to discuss a potential communication problem within the Practice. These concerns are then fed back to the Practice Manager, Sharon Rowe, to be resolved.

On that note I wish to thank Sharon for her responses to the issues we raise. She is always most approachable and open to our suggestions. A special thanks must go to Tracey Worley who, amongst her role as Carers Champion, within the Practice, is also our champion. She is very supportive of our group and keeps us on our toes to make sure our notice board in the Practice waiting rooms are up to date. Tracey was also pinnacle in supporting the second Caring for Carers event the PPG, the Village Agents and Living Better team organised this year. The event was, yet again, a great success and requests have been suggested for a similar event to be instigated for 2025.

And last but not least, I wish to thank my fellow committee members for their support and commitment over the last year and to welcome one new member. In addition to this it is always very valuable to have Sandra Wilson, Chair of the Chairs PPG attend our meetings. Sandra has a wealth of knowledge around all PPG’s in Somerset and her advice and input are very welcome.

Ours is a strong team, with members who play essential roles in acute and community health, in social care organisations and are high profile members of the community that this Practice serves. All these people have been able to be a voice for the wider patient group, so that hopefully this makes a difference and enhances the care that patients receive.

AGM: Resignation and re-election of Officers, Chair and Secretary

It was proposed that Elizabeth be nominated as Chair, this was proposed by Kate and seconded by Margaret. It was proposed that Jane continue as Secretary, proposed by Ian and seconded by Margaret.

Kate was voted as Deputy Chair, nominated by Elizabeth and seconded by Jane.

Set dates for 2025 quarterly meeting including AGM

• February, 2025: 12/02/2025
• May, 14/05/2025
• August, 13/08/2025
• November with AGM
• 12/11/2025.

Proposed new start time of 5.15pm to enable Sally to attend, to be checked by Mike and Phil Keenan.

PPG Meeting 14/08/2024 Review Minutes 

(Items 9&10) Meeting minutes matters arising considered, approved and signed off.

Practice Update  Staff Update

There are no staff vacancies at present.

Current patient numbers

Our practice list size is 10,621.

RSV vaccination campaign (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

This vaccine was introduced from 01 September 2024.  It is available for pregnant women (over 28 weeks) and older adults aged 75 to 79 years.  We have delivered 264 vaccines to date.

Flu vaccines

We have delivered 2,312 vaccines to patients over 65 years of age and 588 vaccines to patients under 65 years of age in a clinical at-risk group.

New telephone system

This was installed at the end of August as planned.  There were a few hiccups in the first few days, but these problems were quickly resolved, and the system is working well.  

Medical students

We have started hosting medical students from Peninsula Medical School, in Plymouth, for their GP placement sessions.  This started in October.  We have hosted three students so far and have another pair in practice with us for the next two weeks.  The medical students on placement with us are in years 3 or 4 of their course.  They are not qualified doctors as yet and will be under the close supervision of Dr Marc Janes and Dr Sam Duckworth as supervisors.  

Registrar GP

Dr Stewart Smith joined us in August as our trainee GP.  Stewart is a qualified doctor in his final year of general practice specialty training under the supervision of Dr Emily Rowe.

Impact of the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions

This is due to come in from April 2025 as announced in the recent budget.  Employers’ contributions will rise from 13.8% to 15% coupled with a reduction in the thresholds.  This will be an additional cost of around £23,400 to the practice based on current payroll, i.e. it does not account for any pay increases from April 2025.  

The BMA has raised concerns about the impact on general practice because most still operate as business partnerships.  There has been no announcement as yet as to whether there will be anything within the GP contract from April 2025 to help general practice fund the costs of the national insurance increase.

Village Agent Update

The Talking Cafe in Williton is going really well. There are higher numbers with learning disabilities and literary, and supporting clients with obtaining attendance allowance, allowable blue badges and powers of attendance. Bernice has been amazing, however, owing to obtaining a new post, Safeguarding Lead for Devon, she has resigned from working with the Talking Cafe.

Digital inclusion is to be added to the portfolio of help, as well as working with Swan Advocacy, who advocate for attendants. The CAB ‘clinic’ is now once a week. The Watchet electric cars cover the whole area covered by the PPG (2 cars), as wheels have had to close books because of limited resources. The Book Shop is helpful with crisis funds.  

There are also funds available for help with practical things like getting a washing machine or travel. With the decrease in Winter Fuel Allowance, Izzy, together with Age UK have money available to help with fuel poverty and to get bills paid. Izzy uses Age UK for their energy service, getting attendance allowances. Other major sources of help, the food pantry via Marlene.  

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust update

Kate updated the meeting about the appointment of a new Chair, from London. She is a Scientist by background, Chair of the Audit Committee for the House of Commons, Chair of two ICB’s in London, research active and starts 01/01/2025. She is an engaging lady who lives in Bristol. They had over 100 enquiries for the post, long listed 40, short listed 20, and interviewed 4. 

The mergers have been revealing more challenges as time has gone on. Particular problems are with the merging of multiple different digital patient record systems across the different organisations across Somerset health bodies now merged.
Ian expressed concern about potential conflicts in needs of primary and secondary care. This is worse when social care, bed blocking and career paths largely absent in social care. As previously raised, transport to and from the Blackbrook Treatment Centre remains problematic.  

Dementia Alliance Watchet/other

Number attending is varying, a number have died, have gone into care homes, or moved to be near family.  Margaret talked of seeing sad things!!

Volunteers very helpful fund raising, a quiz at the RBL on 29/11/2024. The group is more involved with Spark, and Margaret took part is some research process research. 

Sandra Wilson PPG Chairs update

2025 PPG managed educational community events/activities update

Flu delivery has been excellent, and generally seen quickly. A date was set for the 2025 Carers event, 14/06/2025. Again will work with Fox’s for afternoon tea.

New Agenda Items

Any Other Business

There is a financial planning free event 25/11/24 which is looking at care and support needs. 

Date of Next Meeting

12 February 2025 with a 5.15pm start.