June 21, 2023

Agenda

Present:

• Dr Jon Leung (Dr L)
• Jacquie Clayson – Practice Manager (JC)
• Chairman (FC)
• Treasurer (LAR)
• RA, JW, SM (new member)
• Carole Watson (Greystone House staff)

Apologies:

• ER & JR

FC welcomed everybody to the meeting with a special welcome to new member, SM

Finance Report

LAR reported that nothing had changed as regards our bank balance which for the record stands at £442.65.

Practice News

Jacquie updated FOG members on the news from the surgery as follows:-

Covid & Flu Vaccinations

JC thanked members who had helped out at the three recent vaccination clinics. A late start had hampered the first clinic but the last two clinics had run smoothly.

Staff Changes

A new GP, Dr Jain Chen has joined the practice shortly and Dr Lesley Sherrington has also been working as a locum undertaking four clinical sessions per week.

Paramedic Lucy Thomson is working within the practice on Mondays and Tuesdays and a further paramedic Annie is working Wednesdays and Thursdays. Dr L advised that paramedics bring valuable expertise to the practice and enhance the skill sets of existing staff.

JC confirmed that Dr Joe McGilligan will be leaving Greystone House as at the end of the year and he is still on long term sick leave at present FOG wishes to thank Dr McGilligan for all his past help and support to patients and we do wish both him and Dr Rachelle McGilligan our very best wishes for the future. Practice GPs continue to work additional sessions to cover their absence.

JC advised that the practice are underway with the process of recruiting a further practice nurse hopefully with respiratory skill set to supplement existing skills within the nurses.

New Initiatives

JC pointed out the new Health Pod which is now operational in the patient waiting room. This allows patients to undertake a number of key health measures (e.g. BP, BMI, Height, Weight etc.) with the data going straight to the patient administration system (EMIS) for review. Any ‘out of range’ measures will be reported to a health professional for action. This service supplements the current self-serve BP measurement facility which was well used by patients attending the recent vaccination sessions.

Dr L advised about an important enhancement to the practice facilities. R&B Council have been keen to fill part of the recent Marketfield Way development in Redhill with a community health hub for our GP network practices with premises to be shared with the YMCA. It is hoped that this will be operational from January with appointments offered to network patients presenting with a condition that could most probably be resolved within that appointment. It may run later than current practice times and may be of particular help to commuters.

Appointments will be offered to patients after contact with the surgery as normal practise. A supervising GP will be based there with appropriate medical and administration support staff. NOTE: parking may be limited but Sainsbury’s car park offers one hour free parking. The meeting welcomed this exciting enhancement to the practice range of services.

Health Champions

A general discussion was then held at the meeting as regards the approach we should take as regards the Health Champions initiative adopted by other local practices (Smallfield and Wall House). There are a number of options ranging from a full amalgamation with Health Champion volunteers or maintaining a FOG separate identity and structure. FOG are a registered charity with nominated trustees and it is not clear how this would sit with a 'consolidated’ group but this could be accommodated if we adopt this approach. No firm decision one way or another was agreed. It was suggested that we have a joint meeting between FOG members and Health Champion volunteers who currently number 15-20 patients. It was stressed that FOG does not wish to stand in the way of Health Champions as their activities can only be of benefit to patients. The date for this was agreed as Monday 28th November at 6:30 pm and all FOG members are invited to attend for what could be a decisive meeting.

Any Other Business

SM commented that she had not been aware of the existence of our PPG despite being a patient for a number of years. LAR explained that we have been trying to recruit new members for some time albeit unsuccessfully so that we became a group that represented all patients. This has been difficult despite much publicising.

JW enquired whether there had been any follow up after the recent breakout staff brainstorming session. JC explained that this was still ongoing. It was agreed that it would not be possible to hold a Christmas Fair this year as we are unable to organise it in time. There were also the aspects as to whether South Park social club were able to continue their support this year and that we will also need to arrange suitable public liability insurance.

LAR enquired as to the progress with regard to the planned amalgamation with Moat House surgery in Merstham. JC explained that this is still intended but not sure if this will be next April or the April after and is dependent on a number of practice issues. Meanwhile Moat House have been focusing on a levelling health care initiative for their patients which is something we wish to expand across the network.