How it all started...
The Health Panel consists of a group of randomly selected patients, together with DrDavid Whillierand Practice Manager Sarah Crouch. and Administration ManagerKarine Hydeattend the meetings and also provide administrative support.
The Panel had their first meeting in March 2004, and since then have been meeting on a quarterly basis.
The aim of the Panel is to improve services from a patient point of view, so if YOU have ideas and thoughts that you would like discussed, then please contact a member of the Panel who can do this on your behalf.
If you would like to contact a member of the Panel, then please do so via Linda or Joyce who will pass your details onto a Panel member for them to get in touch with you.
You can contact Linda either by telephoning the health centre, or by e-mailing them:
linda.ladbrooke@nhs.net
(Please note that you should only use these e-mail addresses regarding contacting the Panel).
Members of the Woodlands Patient Panel
| Paddock Wood | Five Oak Green |
| Peter Anger | Lynne Assirati |
| Emma Cahill | Michael Pitson |
| Rosemary Cooper | |
| David Smith | East Peckham |
| Jo Sandley | |
| Joyce Cahill | Christine McNeir |
| Joan Masters | |
| Steve Willimont | |
| David Walter | |
Meeting of Woodlands Patient Panel
from 21st April 2010
oConcerns raised regarding limited amount of appointments available online; system to be reconfigured in house at the earliest opportunity.
oInformation campaign: practice has to agree and meet certain standards regarding data. Panel asked to consider if they want to be pro-active in getting information across to practice population.
oDiscussion regarding what to do with £400 of funding awarded to the Panel, from which an action plan was agreed and would be followed. Panel were able to go on web to see what Patient Participation Groups in other areas have done.
MEETING OF THE WOODLANDS PATIENT PANEL
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 20TH JANUARY 2010
Present were: Peter Anger; Lynne Assirati (first part of meeting only); Joyce Cahill; Joan Masters (Chair); Michael Pitson; Jo Sandley; David smith; David Walter; David Whillier (GP); Sarah Crouch (Practice Manager) and Linda Ladbrooke.
Apologies from: Emma Cahill; Christine McNeir and Steve Willimont.
1. Introduction to meeting:
Joan welcomed Panel members to the meeting.
Guest speakers were welcomed and thanked for coming.
2. Affordable Counselling Service
Shirley Hinsen and Christine Wilding spoke about the service and gave those
present the opportunity to ask questions.
Independent counselling service supports NHS counsellor.
The Practice is not charged for the service, patients pay the counsellor directly after sensitive negotiations about what they can afford.
Open ended counselling, usually at weekly intervals.
Currently team of 6 seeing 32 clients a week between them.
Appointment times offered are constrained by Practice opening hours; waiting list due to patients requesting early/evening appointments.
Lots of positive feedback, this was echoed by David Whillier.
Appointments by GP referral only.
Leaflets on the service were handed out.
3. Kent LINk = Kent Local Involvement Network
Elayne Oxley came to talk about how Kent LINk works to involve more of the
Community to influence and improve local health and social care services.
Kent is divided into 3 areas and Elayne covers West Kent which covers Dartford down to Tunbridge Wells.
LINk offers different levels of involvement.
Information on the service was handed out.
For further information, log on to: www.thekentlink.co.uk
4. Accuracy of minutes
Agreed to be an accurate account of the meeting.
5. Matters arising from last meeting:
David Smith had printed off availability of Dr Burke appointments which offered appointments at East Peckham only. David was thanked for printing this off as it would prove helpful in investigating any glitch in the system.
Jo wanted confirmation that nappies could be disposed off in the building as Health Visitors are still asking parents to take them home; Sarah said that while it is preferable for parents to take them home for disposal, it is fine for them to be put in bin here. This will be raised at the Health Centre Management group.
Linda asked whether those present had seen the Mascalls artwork currently on display and invited them to view them at the end of the meeting. Sarah said that the idea was to have a fresh batch of artwork to display every year.
6. Bid for funds PPG
Some time ago Sarah had been alerted to the fact that funding was available to support Patient Participation Group initiatives. Unfortunately the deadline for the bid did not tie in well with the scheduled meetings and so Sarah spoke with Joan about it.
Sarah spoke about bid saying that funding would be for a ‘return to work-er’ which would help with their individual health needs, and this individual would then work with the PPG to take forward initiatives. It was felt that this might give fresh impetus.
Close date for bid was 12th January so a bit early to hear anything back.
Sarah to pass on bid to Elayne who is having bi-monthly meetings with PCT.
If bid successful the LINk would be able to get it off the ground.
7. AOB
Lynne was unable to stay for the duration of the meeting at which she had hoped to raise a couple of issues; however she had e-mailed these to Panel members. As the meeting is not the appropriate place to raise any individual patient specific issues, Linda focussed only on the general points raised:
1 year + wait for diabetic check- Sarah said that we had talked last year about the changes that were made to streamline the existing system. The checks are now done in the birthday month of patients and in the transitional period some people may be coming quickly after they have already had a check under old system, and some people will be waiting for well over a year. The Practice will not be sending invites in future as it is hoped that their birthday month will trigger them to make birthday review appointment. Reminders will only be sent when patients are overdue for their check. Joan said that she had experience of the new system and found it to be fine.
Hospital clinics – Lynne had queried whether Woodlands staff could check with the hospital to find out what clinics are being cancelled. In response, Sarah said that the staff here are unable to undertake this. If there is a complaint with hospital services patients should contact the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) Team. If anyone has a concern about the services provided at the doctors they need to discuss this with either their doctor or Practice Manager.
Elayne said that the LINk is not a complaint service and that they would like to hear about good things that are happening too. David Whillier said that LINk could possibly look at appointments that are being cancelled at hospitals by surveying GPs.
8. Date of next meeting
7.15 p.m. on Wednesday 21st April 2010.