1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES
PRESENT
Patients: Gill Walt (Chair), Mimi Colahan (Vice Chair), Gordon Meen, Jonny Bucknell, Kirsten de Keyser, Kathy Graham-Harrison, Susan Hutton, Isky Gordon, Ian Critchley, Pat Banks, Ruthina Newton, Rachel Clucas, Nori Graham.
Staff: Siobhan Moriarty, Jonathan Levy.
APOLOGIES: Dilini Kalapuhana, Veronica Brinton, Jill Harbord
2. MINUTES FROM 19 SEPTEMBER & MATTERS ARISING
- The response to the PPG’s letter expressing concern about the proposed merger of the five CCG boroughs (Camden, Islington, Haringey, Barnet and Enfield) into one North Central London CCG was shared with all those at the meeting.
- Café signs: some have been removed. Work in progress.
3. RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DEMENTIA (NORI GRAHAM)
Dementia affects 1 in 20 of over 65 year olds and 1 in 5 of over 80 year olds. Nori Graham, a retired psychiatrist specialising in old age, former chair of the Alzheimer Society, mental health adviser to Care UK, introduced the notion of raising awareness about dementia among James Wigg patients.
Dr Graham gives interactive talks throughout the UK and training sessions to help understand dementia and how to react to the needs of people with dementia.
The possibility of having training sessions at the James Wigg was discussed, starting with sessions for the reception staff, social prescribing staff and PPG volunteers, so that they all become ‘dementia friends’. It was also decided to run a session for the wider community, to be organized by the PPG in the spring.
Action: Chair and Practice Manager.
4. SOCIAL PRESCRIBING
Social Prescribing represents care outside of medical or psychological support. Sharon Gordon, appointed social prescriber in September, is now seeing 18 patients. The process is: referral (by GP or self-referral), telephone triage, initial review, then a 6 – 8 week block of treatment. Patients are encouraged to self-refer.
5. REPORT BACK FROM CPPEG
- The focus on the re-organization of the 5 CCGs into one is using up CCG energy at the moment.
- The ‘out of hours’ service phone number was out of order 3 weeks ago, and not corrected by the Service Provider. Kathy Graham-Harrison has taken this up with Camden CCG.
6. FEEDBACK FROM VOLUNTEERS MANAGING THE QUEUE
Judy Hildebrand, Kirsten de Keyser and Mimi Colahan continue to work the Queue. Unfortunately Jill Harbord is no longer able to.
Issues dealt with:
- Appreciation was expressed by the fact that there are now 2 reception staff regularly on duty;
- Monitors stopped working, the screens were black when not calling a patient, and made no alerting noise. This is now fixed.
- It was suggested that we stop using plastic cups, and use cardboard cones.
- A bin needs to be placed by the water jug for used cups.
- There is a large puddle in the road outside the entrance to the surgery making access very difficult in particular for wheelchair users. PPG member, Jonny Bucknell called the Council.
7. FEEDBACK FROM PRACTICE
- Patient Access:
The sign in sheet tor Patient Access is very difficult. Emis are exploring ways to improve this.
- Telephone system:
Patients details will be linked to their phone number and will pop up on the screen when they ring the Practice.
- DoctorLink:
This has been paused by the Practice as there was dissatisfaction with the implementation of the pilot. There were safety issues connected to the info DoctorLink was providing and the windows for response given were inappropriate.
- Flu vaccination:
1278 vaccinations have been given to the over 65s, needing another 381 to reach target.
- Christmas Bazaar:
Will be on Tuesday 17th December between 9 and 5pm in the reception area. There will be stands promoting different voluntary services, and plans are underway for a variety of activities. Ian Critchley suggested one of the garden volunteers has offered to demonstrate how to make Xmas decorations, and it was agreed that this might be part of a PPG stand.
Action: Chair
8. AOB
- Phlebotomy Service:
It was noted that the phlebotomy service is not well supported by UCH, and some people have complained about having to wait during breaks needed by the sole provider. Action: Practice Manager
- Ear Wax Clearing:
It was reported that although the practice no longer clears ear wax, SpecSavers on Kentish Town High Street offer this service, for a small fee.
9. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS in 2020
- Thursday 27 February, 21 May, 24 September, 26 November at 2.00-3.30PM
- Thursday 23 July at 6-7.30PM
