July 3, 2023
Agenda
Friends of Greystone House
Notes of Meeting held on Monday 3rd July 2023 @6:30pm
Present:
Dr Jonathan Leung (Dr L), Jacquie Clayson – Practice Manager (JC), Chairman (FC), TS, JS, JW, SM, JW, LAR, LM, NM, VW, JP, KH, BT, Carole (Greystone House Staff), AG, Dr O, SA
Apologies: RA
FC welcomed everybody to the meeting especially new members and provided some background to FoG. Much has changed on the health scene over recent years and membership of FoG has been impacted. Welcoming the inclusion of the Health Champions, FC hoped that they will be able to attend future meetings.
Minutes
Election of Officers for Next Financial Year
FC and LAR both put themselves forward for a further year as Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer respectively. In the absence of voting, both agreed to carry on for a further year
Finance Report
LAR reported on Finances as follows:-
Our current bank balance stands at £442.65. Nothing has changed since last year and Barclays Bank have been asked to keep the account open as it had been ‘flagged’ as a potential dormant account.
Health Champions (HC)
Kate Hayes reported that this initiative had got off to a good start. HC have now held three weekly walks. These walks are held every Wednesday starting at 11:30 am from the surgery and end with refreshments back at the surgery. All patients are very welcome to attend. JC confirmed that a further training session for HC is scheduled for 19th July.
Practice News
Jacquie updated FOG members on the news from the surgery as follows:-
JC advised that Covid has changed process and procedure at the surgery with a greater focus on how patients may access the surgery facilities.
New Telephone System
This was introduced last October with great success. 93% of calls are answered first time with an average wait time of 3-5 minutes and sometimes less. If the number of callers waiting exceeds more than 6 then the caller is offered a rapid call back with the call given priority.
New Practice Website
This is being launched this coming week and is a leap forward in functionality with improved links to the enhanced NHS website. The new website implementation means that the existing practice website will not be available for 2-3 days over this coming weekend and early part of the week with contact only by phone until the launch. NQ asked whether contact may continue to be available via the Patient Access app which is part of the EMIS patient administration system. Whilst JC confirmed that this will continue, the practice are actively discouraging this as a better and more stable service is available via the enhanced NHS app.
Amalgamation with Moat House
JC confirmed that good progress is being made with the merger. The ‘new’ practice partnership will be formed as from 1st October with a full merging of clinical systems as from next April. JC circulated a draft announcement letter to patients at both surgeries and a copy of this is attached as Appendix A. Dr L explained that the merger will enable both practices to offer further medical services to patients. A meeting attendee asked whether medical information would be shared as she had specifically declined sharing their medical data outside of Greystone practice. Dr L further explained that sharing medical data across the wider partnership was essential and of benefit to patients. Also all staff have signed strict confidentiality agreements as had FoG members and Health Champions although these latter groups do not have any access whatsoever to medical data. KH asked whether any staff will be moving following the merger. JC replied that no staff movements, redundancies or other changes are planned.
Annual Significant Events Report
JC stated that a copy of this report had been circulated to FoG members and Health Champions. Time pressures excluded a further discussion on the issues raised and patients were asked to contact JC directly if they had any further questions.
Staff Changes
JC reported that she will be focusing attention on the success of the merger over the following months and following that will, regretfully, be stepping back from her role as Practice Manager. Everybody present were dismayed at this news as JC is an efficient and supportive Practice Manager although pleased that she will continue with other projects on a part time basis. A new Practice Manager, Rachelle Lynch has been appointed and will attend our next meeting. Following on from these changes, Nicola Brown has been appointed Assistant Practice Manager. Moat House surgery have a similar management structure.
Dr Viktoria Bedi has joined the practice following her GP training here. Welcome to Dr Bedi. Carole (Carer Support) will be retiring from the practice shortly but will be working part time for a transitional period. Carole has been a great supporter of FoG for many years and we wish her all the best in her retirement.
Dr Josie York is appointed as Senior Partner following the usual procedure of the longest serving partner. Our best wishes to Dr York.
Much focus is being placed on supporting existing and potential diabetic patients and a practice nurse is now full time in this role. Dr L explained that Greystone aim to be a pro-active health service and not just a straight GP service.
Any Other Business
Linda Morris asked about a flyer received through her letterbox offering blood tests for specific medical conditions. Dr L advised against using any of these non-NHS services as they are commercial undertakings with potentially misleading results. A GP will always be able to commission any blood tests that may be required with a full analysis and explanation of the results. Dr L mentioned that although Greystone practice were not directly involved in medical research, they do liaise closely with Surrey Heartlands Trust providing and receiving research information. He cited situations such as PSA readings which is an unreliable indicator but the best available without much more serious interventions.
Some members expressed disappointment that the practice were encouraging the LGBTQ+ movement by the display in the patient waiting room claiming that it was not the purpose of a GP practice to take such a stance. JC recognised that this is an issue that could cause some friction but stated that everybody is welcome at the surgery regardless of their views, gender, race or sexual orientation as supported by the large poster on entering the patient waiting room.
LAR raised the issue of the recent visit to Greystone House by the NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard. It was interesting to note that Greystone had been singled out as a leading GP performer and had even received a mention in a recent parliamentary debate. Dr L replayed the video clip to the meeting.
Date of next Meeting - Monday 9th October 2023 – 6:30 pm at the surgery.
Moat House surgery PPG members will also be invited to attend this meeting as the aim will be to have ONE PPG in future covering patients at both Greystone House and Moat House surgeries.