1. Welcome, Apologies and Matters Arising.
Present: Pat Banks, Veronica Brinton, Mimi Colahan, Tony Gardner-Medwin, Danya Glaser, Isky Gordon, Kathy Graham-Harrison, Nori Graham, Patricia Langton, Eddie Malfiggiami, Jane Mays, Ruthine Newton, Tamar Posner, Judy Sands, Gill Scott, Manor Wong, Gill Walt.
Practice: Pal Bhambra, Manisha Kaur, Steve Yaxley.
Apologies: Jonny Bucknell, Liz Sturgeon, Kirsten de Keyser, Hilary Calvert, Nancy Hogg, Amanda Williams, Donatella Soldi.
The Chair welcomed everyone and observed that the July event in the KTHC garden had been a good opportunity for socialising as well as asking questions about primary care and the practice. The chair apologised for the slow progress on the newsletter.
2. Brief Reports on Dementia Awareness.
1) The Dementia support group is growing progressively, meets on the first Tuesday of every month. It is only for JW/QC patients. The practice will implement a pop-up on EMS system when a dementia patient has an appointment, informing the doctor about the support group. The practice will also inform the Camden Memory Service of this support group.
2) Dementia Week. Organised by Lucy Legg, this initiative aimed to raise awareness about dementia in the community. The Health Hub at KTHC had pamphlets and flyers, which were also handed out by the volunteers in Reception. Other activities took place in the community: at Camden School for Girls, and a local care home. For a full description of the week, see the Camden New Journal, 19 September 2024.
3. Signage in KTHC.
Community Health Partnership has been in contact with the PPG through Gill Scott. A face to face, on site meeting is planned for 3rd October. A proforma of the signs envisaged was presented for all to view. Thanks were warmly expressed to Gill Scott for all her work and perseverance.
One of the new tenancies at the KTHC is the East Integrated Neighbourhood Team, a new initiative. From the end of September they will occupy the top floor of the KTHC. Among their staff will be social and care services and district nurses. The aim is to have an integrated approach all under one roof with multi-disciplinary experts available. Many details are still to be decided.
4. Treatment of Long-Term Conditions and Preventive Screening.
Follow up on patients with long term conditions was presented. Data on a few specific conditions (eg diabetes) Illustrated how the practice had improved. e.g. the percentage of diabetic patients seen had improved from 41% in the previous 12 months to 62% in just the first 4 months of the current year. This trend was seen in all conditions. There is a team dedicated to the recall of these patients. Health checks for cervical smears were going well in the age range 50 – 64 with a 74% uptake, although progress among 25 – 49 year olds was not as good. However, it is improving, going from 40% last year to 62% currently.
Routine health checks on patients between 40 and 70 years of age with no underlying condition are also going well. This age range is determined by NHS England. It was suggested that a useful research project could explore whether this health check should be expanded to patients 70 – 80 years of age who do not have a long term condition, to see if important health conditions were being missed in this age group.
Pal Bhambra made the point that GP practices in England tend to fall into two groups: either very good at follow up but having difficulty with providing sufficient appointments on demand. Or practices with providing sufficient appointments on demand but which are unable to carry out long term follow-up or screening as required. The statistics suggest that both the JW and QC practices are providing good follow up for patients with long term conditions. This reduces the number of acute appointments and also reduces A&E visits.
5. Test Results.
It is not always clear to patients how to get results from tests carried out. The doctor who ordered the test has the responsibility to check the results and act accordingly. However, it was suggested that patients should check with the practice if they have not heard anything after 10 days to be sure results had been received.
6. NHS England Demonstration Site Programme.
A new initiative invited all 1250 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in England to be part of a demonstration project where significant extra resources will be provided for at least 2 years. The JW/QC forms its own PCN and was one of the 22 selected for this demonstration project. The PCNs can spend the extra money as they like, and the JW/QC PCN is hoping to employ new staff, including another GP, pharmacists and others. Reports of workload will need to be fed back to NHS England monthly. The aim is to see how much extra funding PCNs require to provide a service that meets the needs of the population.
7. AOB.
Website – No further progress to date.
A pilot was suggested to use WhatsApp as a method of communicating with patients – providing information, but with no ability to reply or comment. A few members of the PPG were keen to join the trial.
8. Next meeting.
21st November at 2pm.
