Benson Patients Panel Meeting On 21st September 2010 Minutes

benson patients panel meeting on 21st september 2010 minutes present: janet burtt, fran butler, joyce clarke, peter clarke, fenella gal

Benson Patients Panel Meeting on 21st September 2010
Minutes
Present: Janet Burtt, Fran Butler, Joyce Clarke, Peter Clarke, Fenella
Galpin, Pauline Hoad, Peggy Jones, Mike Mackney, John Reid, Alison
Richmond, Dr Peter Rose.
Observers: Dr Peter Burke (St Bartholomew’s, Cowley Road, Oxford).
Brian Goldthorp, Sheila Seymour and Robin Seymour (Goring & Woodcote).
1. Presentation by Ronan O’Connor (PCT Director of Communications and
Engagement). Ronan O’Connor explained that the PCT wants to support
patients' groups and led a wide-ranging discussion. He assured the
Panel that patients' opinions were taken into account when the PCT
makes decisions. Evening meetings are acceptable to professional
people. Expenses are available for some of the consultations. The
panel raised its difficulty over recruiting younger members; Julia
Stackhouse of the PCT had mentioned at a meeting in Henley the
importance of visiting groups and talking to individuals. There was a
discussion of the move to GP consortia controlling the NHS and the
need to reduce the cost of administration.
2. Apologies: Denis de Beger, Maureen George, Caroline Nathan.
3. Minutes of the meeting on 3 February 2010
The minutes were approved without change.
4. Matters arising
6. Continuity of care. Peter Rose apologized for GP sickness and
pregnancy having been hurdles for continuity of care recently
10. Claims for negligence. John Howell, MP, has offered to attend a
meeting of the Panel to discuss claims for negligence, but has not
responded to emails with offers of dates. Peter Rose will follow this
up.
5. Meeting of Regional Patients' Panel
Mike Mackney and John Reid attended the Regional Patient Panel Meeting
at Bell Surgery, Henley, 9 September 2010, with Dr Andrew Burnett of
Sonning Common in the chair. There were two people from the PCT, the
manager of the Bell Surgery, and about ten patients from about five
practices of the consortium. The only decision made was to try to form
a regional panel with two members from each surgery, meeting about
three times a year.
The time was spent in an informal discussion in which Mike and John
explained how our panel works, Dr Burnett talked about the pending
reorganization, and Julia Stackhouse explained her strategy for
patient involvement. Dr Burnett expressed his personal concern about
the huge administrative burden that will be imposed on GPs. Julia
Stackhouse encouraged us all to participate in "Talking Health". She
is trying very hard to get lots of patients that are willing to
express their views on particular topics and goes out and about at
events trying to persuade people to get involved.
The Panel agreed that the likely size of the GP consortium would mean
that attendance at meetings would need to be limited to one patient
per surgery.
6. Older People's Mental Health in Oxfordshire
Denis de Beger drew the Panel's to the consultation on Older People's
Mental Health. [John Reid looked at this following the meeting. It
seemed to him to be like "motherhood and apple pie" - all suggestions
desirable per se.]
7. The Government's plans for NHS reorganization.
Peter Rose encouraged the Panel to read the White Paper and
participate in the consultation. He outlined the thinking of
Oxfordshire GPs. A new organization is needed since GPs wish to focus
on treating patients and do not have the interest or skills to play
the roles now performed by the PCT. Some are inappropriate for GPs to
oversee - e.g. their own contracts, dentists, opticians. Public health
responsibility will be transferred to the County Council. Three
options for consortia are being considered: one for the whole county,
one involving 2 organisations: the city and the rest, one for 3
organisations: the city, the North, and the South. Peter himself
favours having a single consortium. It has advantages for risk
management since expensive treatments will be shared by a large
population; it should lead to less fragmentation of services.
The Panel was undecided on its preference for the number of consortia.
John Reid favoured the single consortium because it will involve the
least disruption.
8. News from the Practice.
A third receptionist, Penny King, has been appointed, which is
particularly helpful for covering annual leave. The annual programme
of 'flu immunizations will start soon and includes cover for H1N1
(swine flu). Natasha Pomery is on maternity leave, covered by Kelly
Gladwish-Harris and Miranda Wynne-Edwards as locums. The Surgery will
promote Nordic walking (with two sticks), which exercises more of the
body. A health fair will be held next year. Tai Chi is going well.
Chlamydia testing is going well with 20 tests per month, the third
highest in Oxfordshire (about 10% of 15-24 year olds in the UK have
chlamydia so screening young people for it is important). It was
suggested that the surgery should write about this in the Benson
Bulletin.
9. Date and plan for the next meeting.
No plans were made but correspondence since the meeting has
established that John Howell will be able to come on 18 November.
10. AOB
Peter Clarke hoped that the Panel would support a fund to aid the
practice that Lucy Jenkins visited in Egypt. It was suggested that the
best way might be to buy equipment and/or medicines for her to take
when she next visits it.