Minutes of meeting 04/11/24
MARYLEBONE HEALTH CENTRE
PATIENT PARTNERSHIP GROUP
Minutes of virtual meeting 4th November 2024
Meeting Chair: JM
Present: SF, BD, BH, YT, SB, MB
1. Apologies: CB, JC, AG, SL
2. Minutes of last meeting
Minutes of 23rd September 2024 were approved
3. Matters Arising
7.4 Description of PPG – JM apologised for not having dealt with the wording. Will do a redraft and circulate for comment.
4. Practice Update – JC emailed before meeting
4.1 Staff
New GP funded through NHSE funding route – ARRS monies – (ARRS- Some of the money taken from some practices funding a few years ago was collated and redistributed as Additional Reallocation Resource funding) starts at MHC next Friday – name unknown. MHC doesn’t select and are allocated someone 1 day a week. JC doesn’t know if he is just for MHC Pxs. More info to follow
As Yakup prepares his transition to Little Venice he is replaced by Katie who has been promoted to Reception Manager and she is replaced by Lily (starting as receptionist next week)
Dr Verma is back from Maternity Leave 11th Dec
4.2 Centre Review
Thank you to Judith, Jim and Yvonne for planning to attend the Centre Review on 11th Dec
Last year PPG’s aim was to increase numbers, this year’s aim – see Item 9.
4.3 Research Champions – Promoters of Research and Learning
Dr Harry and Zainab our Pharmacist are now MHC research champions. MHC wonder if PPG feel they would like to appoint a research champion so when we roll out campaigns we can ask them to help us create ‘attractive’ invitations to participate. Meeting needed more information from JC about this role.
4.4 PPG Table Feedback
Thank you to those PPG who attended the PPG table. The feedback MHC received was:
I know that person and do hope they will not tell people they saw me here. I hope my attendance remains confidential
Were they taping the waiting room?
what a nice idea! be better if there was more space
4.5 COVID, RSV and Flu Clinics
COVID clinics went really well – only a few DNA’s. All over 75’s were invited and feedback was that patients were pleased they didn’t have to travel around to find somewhere which provided it.
Flu uptake has been very slow. The numbers will be reported at the Centre Review
Ditto RSV
4.6 Patient Feedback
Some recent feedback from patients:
Access Hub have started referring patients for tests at UCL- no one knows why or who approved this and we have reported this back to the HUB service. This is affecting other practices not just MHC. Hospitals were OK to do tests but we use Imperial request forms and there is no service commissioned from UCLH so we expect NHSE to kick back at some stage and Pxs to be turned away from UCLH. Access Hub have been asked not to do this going forward. We can do bloods on patients at the surgery
Px referred to hospital as suspected cancer. They said should be seen routinely, we argued for her to be seen (back and forth) and when they did see pt she was diagnosed with a cancer and so treatment delayed. Referral rejections seem to be more frequent recently and concern raised with hospital
Px referred by practice to physio who referred on to MSK. MSK looked her notes with consent and Px unhappy. Sharing medical records does seem to be something happening more frequently. On discussion generally the PPG is not against sharing unless the data is to be sold to industry. SB informed the meeting that the Federated Data Platform is being launched where there will be a uniting of records. The meeting was pleased with that news.
Px unhappy we won’t prescribe the medication of his choice and we follow local prescribing formulary. This is considered best practice and cost efficient for NHS. The meeting were unclear whether this meant that a different equivalent is not possible so different medication was issued. Explanation needed.
5. Stakeholders
5.1 Update on HealthWatch
BH will fill us in at a later date.
5.2 HCL PPG meeting Oct 15th Topic: PATCHS
JC report of the meeting: HCL introduced the PATCHs concept but didn’t present it as an option. They introduced it in a way in which patients thought it was going to be instead of, and this caused a great deal of concern. The concept is patients can, if they want to, send information of us to consider/action and if Drs can do without needing a consultation they will and its quicker than a face to face appt as the turnaround time is 2 working days.
In fact MHC can do 3 PATCHs in place of 1 face to face GP appt – so it’s very efficient.
Useful for matters such as:
I’ve seen my private GP, here is the letter and can I ask for this medication on the NHS
I have this spot on my face, not a mole, had it for 6 months but wonder if i need to get removed-photo attached
I have received a request from the hospital to have bloods done-here is the letter-is this something you can do
The medication you gave me works well- as discussed if it works well i should now use this instead of the other medication but i have small supply only- can i have some more?
Some practices have started saying that Pxs cannot book appointments without sending a PATCH request first and then following a GP review an appointment will be arranged (or not). Obviously this was then discussed and quite rightly considered poor practice so the message of PATCHS is an option was lost and the meeting disintegrated into chaos.
Considering the experiences anyone from the PPG has had from attending these meetings the PPG wondered how we could challenge the HCL PPG on their approach to topics?
6. N.A.P.P AGM
JM will be attending the AGM as she is now a Trustee. BH and MB asked to be added to the list of attendees as they find the membership useful.
7. Open meeting
The Open Table feedback from those that manned it for the PPG was the following:
Sitting at the small table in the waiting room was not effective.
One member was told not to approach anyone and on reflection maybe doing it at the surgery when people might not be feeling well is possibly not the best approach. The meeting thought that a personal approach to targeted people who are known to be the type of person who could be interested was best. Otherwise could we get a piece made for the video that people watch in the waiting area?
We seemed unclear whether we are PARTNERSHIP or PARTICIPATION, apparently there is a historic reason for the choice but we need to be clear about it.
8. NHS PCN Survey on Access
The members were reminded to do the survey.
9. PPG work plan for 2025
Can MHC undertake more MSK appointments as it seems to be a service of great need?
Can MHC initiate a WELL WOMAN Clinic? It should encompass Mensuration onwards with a review of one’s complete health when older.
These two topics will be given to the Centre Review as our suggested aims.
10.AOB
10.1 Meeting Attendance of Staff
The PPG will have meetings even if no-one from the surgery can attend, but would appreciate a staff attendance if at all possible.
Future meeting in 2024
16th December – it was decided to cancel this last meeting of the year.
Future meetings in 2025
27th Jan, 10th March, 28th April, 9th June, 21st July, 1st September, 13th October, 24th November.
Practice website address: www.marylebonehealthcentre.co.uk
NHS North West London North West London – North West London Critical Care Network (londonccn.nhs.uk)
Central London Health Care (GP Federation MHC members of) www.centrallondonhealthcare.co