MINUTES OF RIVERSIDE PPG held on Friday, 25th April, 2014 at Riverside Health Centre Present Ann Watson (Chairman), Monica Stanway-Williams, Peter StanwayWilliams, Ted Beckwith, Linda Cox, Dr. John Hoskyns, Pamela Robinson 1. Apologies were received from Mel Lodge, Valerie Irons, Iris Marr, Jilly Gilbert 2. Minutes The minutes of the previous meeting were approved 3. Matters arising (a) Boots’ dispensing problems Lyndsay Forsdick (new Store Manager) and Mark Fernee (Area Manager) attended the meeting and a discussion was held before the main meeting commenced. Members present were provided with a copy of the “Problems” list and a copy of this was circulated along with the “Meeting” report, separately from these minutes. Boots’ undertook to be happy to return to the PPG in approx.. 3 months’ time. (b) Shingles vaccinations It was reported that, whereas last year, those aged 70 years and 79 years had been offered vaccinations, the new year from September would incorporate those newly aged 70, and also 78 and 79 years. (c) Talk by Professor Booth on men’s health: this was excellent but poorly attended. Further talks (where tests can be pre-booked for prostate cancer, aortic aneurysm screening, cardiac risk assessment and oral cancer check) are to be held at: Southend Utd on 19th May, Newmarket Racecourse on 7th June, Ipswich Town FC on 16th October and Lions Club Clacton on 13th November (all 2014). Contact [email protected] or Trish Binks on 07734 747854 to book. (d) Doctors may issue foodbank vouchers on clinical need basis. 4. Reports/meetings attended TB reported on four meetings he had attended. The Harwich forum meeting at the beginning of April was attended by 30/40, mainly angry at the “temporary” closure of Harwich and Clacton for maternity deliveries. Simon Banks, the local representative, had received much abuse – having organised the meeting for the normal time of 2 p.m. – being accused of choosing a time when most people could not attend! A second meeting on Urgent Care had been cancelled; a meeting on End of Life care, for which TB is a representative, also seems to incorporate Maternity services and children, and he is awaiting a requested strategy document for the latter, the former having been discussed and tidied up. A Health Forum meeting on 17th April raised overburdening of the group; an admin assistant is being sought for 15 hrs/pw. TB raised conflict of interest concerns. He has been requested to discuss same with Dawn Bostock who has been re-elected to her role. Jeremy Taylor of National Voices draft report dated April 2014 will be copied and ML asked to hold the copy with a list of PPG members who borrow it to peruse.*** ML, please. Suffolk Federation of Diabetes (GPs) have been given the contract. Health Forum newsletter is on line with TB comments thereon. Summary of reports Though “Choice” is constantly a word being bandied about within the CCG and Health Forum, in fact with such constrained budgets and growing population, it appears that false hopes are being given to patients about what they can expect to obtain within health care. 5. News from the practice None 6. A.O.B. (a) It was confirmed, in response to a question raised, that Attendance Allowance forms have to be obtained from Social Services, then appointments can be obtained with Tim Exley on Tuesday afternoons at the surgery from 2 – 4.30 p.m., who will give assistance in completion. (b) LC reported that the necessary numbers for Primary Care in Residential Homes had been filled; she had therefore not been able to join the group. 7. Date of next meeting – please note that this will be held on Friday, 23rd May, 2014, and not on the customary last Friday of the month. PRR 25.4.2014