Notices

Attendees: Dr Brown, Louise Armstrong, Michael N, Jackie S

Apologies – Patient A

Introductions: Dr Brown introduced himself as one of the GP Partners of Horden Group Practice.  Introductions made from all present and new member Jackie was welcomed to the group.

Updates since last meeting:

Dr Brown told members that there have been some changes in staffing since the last meeting. Since the last meeting we hired receptionist Hannah who has sadly left us, but we have now employed a new receptionist, Caitlyn.  We have had the retirement of Diane who served the practice for over 40 years. Dr Brown explained the new management structure and how things would work now that Diane has gone. He explained that we have 3 GP registrars who will be leaving us this year, and we will be getting 3 new GP registrars. Dr Koganti has sadly handed her notice in, and we are currently interviewing for a new part time GP.  Jackie asked what a registrar was and Dr Brown explained that a GP registrar is a qualified doctor who is undertaking their training to become a General Practitioner (GP).

Vaccinations (Reviewed from previous meeting in February)

Dr Brown explained that we ran a successful Saturday covid and flu clinic and we vaccinated over 400 patients.  He explained that uptake is continuing to decline around all vaccinations including childhood immunisations.

Secondary care waiting lists (Reviewed from previous meeting in February)

Dr Brown discussed problems with waiting times for patients being seen in secondary care.  He pointed out difficulties with patients who are waiting a long time to be seen by specialists in hospitals meaning they are frequently attending the surgery with little that can be done. Waiting times for assessments for ADHD/Autism are especially long and children are waiting up to 4 years to be seen meaning parents are presenting at the surgery asking for help and little can be done in primary care. Dr Brown explained problems in which private companies are being used for these patients under a right to choose but that the process is not deemed sufficient for diagnosis therefore follow up is difficult and NHS providers have decided not to prescribe medications to these patients.

Complaints

Dr Brown spoke to members about the possibility of a change in our complaint’s procedures.  Currently all complaints are sent an acknowledgement letter followed by the practice investigating the complaint fully.  Dr Brown proposes that complaints that do not meet certain criteria are sent a letter to explain that their complaint does not meet the threshold and no further action would be taken.  This would include details of what to do should they still feel they wish to pursue the complaint. PPG members agreed that this would be the most time efficient way of dealing with complaints.

Car Parking

Dr Brown mentioned that there are going to be some changes to parking facilities at Peterlee site.  He explained that as we must pass through castle dene car park to access the surgery car park, that we are liable to a fine should we stay in the car park more than 3 hours.  Previously all staff would add their registration to a keypad and all would be exempt.  Now the car park owners are proposing we have a set number of cars allowed.  This will cause problems firstly due to the car park not being big enough for all staff anyway and if staff use up all the space, no patient spaces would be available.  Dr Brown proposed that the car park be made staff only excluding 2 disabled bays.  PPG members agreed.

The next meeting date will be agreed shortly, and we will send this out via text to those with mobile numbers or letters for those who don’t.  Please let us know if there is anyone who expresses interest in attending future groups.

Attendees: Dr Brown, Louise Armstrong, Patient Michael N, Patient Elsie H, Patient A, Patient B, Patient C, Gemma Thompson (Social prescriber)

Introductions: Dr Brown introduced himself as one of the GP partners of Horden Group Practice.  Dr Brown introduced Gemma Thompson as our new Social Prescriber/Care Coordinator.

Updates since last meeting:

Dr Brown told members that there have been some changes in staffing since the last meeting. We have recently employed a new health care assistant Sophie and long-standing staff member Nurse Sheila Ferris recently retired. We have also had changes to registrars, Dr Biondi has recently moved on and we now have a new registrar Dr Alex Tunwagun. Dr Jide continues with us until August and Dr Felix until April (Extended to October)

We also spoke about a new service which has recently being trialled within the PCN. DWP worker Michaela has been appointed and will work with patients around benefits, getting back into work etc.

Vaccinations

Dr Brown explained that we ran a successful Saturday covid and flu clinic and we vaccinated over 400 patients.  He explained that uptake is continuing to decline around all vaccinations including childhood immunisations.

Secondary care waiting lists

Dr Brown discussed problems with waiting times for patients being seen in secondary care.  He pointed out difficulties with patients who are waiting a long time to be seen by specialists in hospitals meaning they are frequently attending the surgery with little that can be done. Waiting times for assessments for ADHD/Autism are especially long and children are waiting up to 4 years to be seen meaning parents are presenting at the surgery asking for help and little can be done in primary care. Dr Brown explained problems in which private companies are being used for these patients under a right to choose but that the process is not deemed sufficient for diagnosis therefore follow up is difficult and NHS providers have decided not to prescribe medications to these patients.

Dr Brown explained that patients are frequently attending for a 10 min GP appointment with lists of problems meaning clinics can run late. He also explained problems with online bookable appointments which are not routinely screened and are being booked inappropriately.

Social prescriber/Care coordinator

Gemma introduced herself and explained her role. Gemma has been working with lots of patients around housing, social isolation, benefits etc. Gemma explained that the coffee mornings are taking place regularly and are available to all not just our patients. PPG members explained that maybe some patients may not know about this and discussed ways of extending the advertising may be through posters, having it on the surgery TVs etc. Louise will look into this (We promote this via our Facebook page and in surgery via posters – We will add this onto our TV screens.)

The next meeting date will be agreed shortly, and we will send this out via text to those with mobile numbers or letters for those who don’t.  Please let us know if there is anyone who expresses interest in attending future groups.

We are aware of the upcoming changes to the availability of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) to a very limited number of patients from 23rd June 2025.

At present, we are awaiting further guidance and arrangements from the North East and North Cumbria ICB.

https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/here-to-help-you/health-advice-and-support/weight-loss-drugs-information-for-patients/.

Please be aware that the criteria for eligibility remains very limited.

The practice will contact you directly if you are eligible.

We kindly ask that you do not book an appointment to request Mounjaro, as we are unable and not allowed to offer it outside of the strict criteria in place.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Minutes of PPG meeting Tuesday 1^st October 2024

Attendees: Dr Brown, Louise Armstrong and patients LH, Richard D, Margaret S, Michael N.

Apologies: AS

Introductions: Dr Brown introduced himself as one of the GP partners of Horden Group Practice.  Introductions from all attendees.

Updates since last meeting:

Dr Brown told members that there has been little change in admin staffing since the last meeting. The only change is that we have employed a part time receptionist Hannah who will be working one day a week initially.

Dr Brown updated that there has been a change in registrars (trainee GPs) and that Dr Prabhuswamy and Dr Uwadia have moved on and we now have 2 new registrars, Dr Biondi and Dr Jide along with Dr Felix who will be with us until early next year.

Continuity of care

Dr Brown explained to members that the focus of this meeting would be surrounding the promotion of continuity of care for patients.  He explained the new GP contract has recommended that GPs decrease the number of patients per session and the time they see a patient to 15 mins per patient contact.  He explained that this is not feasible at present without impacting patient care and asked for ideas of how we can ensure patients continue to get a high level of care.  Ideas were that GPs work longer days, but Dr Brown pointed out that this would go against what the BMA are recommending avoiding GP burnout. Dr Brown suggested that patients may have a named GP and discussed the idea of having teams of clinicians so that patients ideally get to see the same person more regularly. This was received as a good idea and patients felt that they preferred to see the same GP if they had an ongoing problem but didn’t mind seeing anyone if it was an acute problem.  Dr Brown explained this would be a work in progress and welcomed PPG members to bring any ideas into the next meeting.

Vaccinations

Dr Brown explained that the vaccination programme for covid winter boosters and flu vaccinations was beginning this week and that we had booked a Saturday clinic to try and vaccinate as many patients as we could during this clinic so that it wouldn’t impact the weekly running of the Practice.  He explained that uptake is continuing to decline around all vaccinations including childhood immunisations. Louise explained that the Practice have also been delivering the RSV vaccinations to eligible patients. For more information please speak to Reception.

CQC rating

The practice is currently rated as “GOOD,” by the care quality commission.  The CQC are satisfied with the way the practice is running and performing and therefore decided to defer further inspection.

The next meeting date will be agreed shortly, and we will send this out via text to those with mobile numbers or letters for those who don’t.  Please let us know if there is anyone who expresses interest in attending future groups.

Please download this sheet with the opening times of Pharmacies during the May and August 2025 Bank Holidays:

Pharmacy Opening Hours during the May and August Bank Holidays 2025

Where possible we do request that samples are handed in on a morning, however we ask that all samples are handed in by no later than 3pm each day.  This is to ensure they make the last collection to be taken to the Hospital.

Thank you.

(Effective from 1 March 2025)

Sometimes the care of a patient is shared between two doctors, usually a GP and a specialist, and there is a formalised written ‘shared care agreement’ setting out the position of each, to which both parties have willingly agreed. Where these arrangements are in place, GP providers can arrange the prescriptions and appropriate investigations, and the results are fully dealt with by clinicians with the necessary competence under the shared care arrangement. There is NHS guidance available about this.

Shared Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principle of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care. Shared Care is currently set up as an NHS service, and entering into a shared care arrangement may have implications around governance and quality assurance as well as promoting health inequalities. A private patient seeking access to shared care should therefore have their care completely transferred to the NHS. Shared care may be appropriate where private providers are providing commissioned NHS services and where appropriate shared care arrangements are in place.

All shared care arrangements are voluntary, so even where agreements are in place, practices can decline shared care requests on clinical and capacity grounds. The responsibility for the patient’s care and ongoing prescribing then remains the responsibility of the private provider.

If you are under the care of a private specialist, we will not be able to enter into a shared care agreement. You can ask us to refer you to an in-person NHS mental health team, but while waiting to see them, you will need to obtain your treatment from your private specialist directly.

The above statement also applies to Third party providers working under right to choose.

We will not carry out tests that private providers want you to have, any tests that private providers need to be done must be completed by them. The Right to Choose providers are also commissioned to do things like physical checks and blood tests and therefore this is also something that they should provide. If they are an online/remote provider, you will need to discuss this fully with them on how to proceed.

If you have started treatment with a private provider, you will either need to:

• • approach the Practice to request a referral to an NHS specialist
  • or continue to receive your treatment directly from your private provider indefinitely

Please note that there may be a significant delay in having your diagnosis reviewed by the NHS team and them agreeing to participate in a shared care agreement. During this time, you will need to continue to receive your treatment directly from your private provider. The Practice is not able or obliged in any way to provide a “bridging” prescription.

March –  Thursday 20th from 12noon.
April –  Thursday 3rd from 12.30pm.
May –  Thursday 22nd from 12noon.
June –  Thursday 26th from 12.30pm.
July –  Thursday 24th from 12.30pm.
September –  Thursday 25th from 12noon.
October –  Thursday 23rd from 12.30pm.

Well done to our wonderful team on raising £84 for Save the Children on Christmas Jumper Day 2024

Attendees: Dr Brown, Louise Armstrong, Debbie Bailey (South Durham Health Federation), CC (Age UK) John Kelly, (Social Prescribing Link Worker) GP, MN, MS, AS.

Introductions: Dr Brown introduced himself and explained that today’s meeting would follow a different format as we welcome guest speakers Charles Chapman and John Kelly.

Updates since last meeting:

Dr Brown told members that there has been little change since the last meeting. The main change has been that long standing receptionist Linda had now retired and that we now have 2 new receptionists in post.

John Kelly (Social Prescribing Link Team Lead.)

Dr Brown introduced John to the group. John explained the role of social prescribing link worker and how this service works hand in hand with the 3 GP surgeries in our PCN. John explained that the team can support patients with social issues such as housing, social isolation, debt management etc. Patients can be referred by their GP but can also be referred by other agencies or staff members at the practice. The team then help the patient to identify their needs and signpost them into the correct direction for support. MN asked John how patients know about this service and another PPG member stated this was something they did not know existed. Dr Brown explained that if a patient comes to him and mentions a social problem then he can direct them to John. John explained that posters had been put in all surgery waiting rooms and advertised on social media. John acknowledged that there is a group of patients who do not use social media or come into the surgery that may not be aware of the service and that this was a problem. He explained that this is where CC and the team at AGE UK can help. John also told patients about coffee mornings that are run at Peterlee and Blackhall. John was asked if there were any plans to run one of these at Horden. He explained that Horden had a lot of these already in place but that it was an area that they would be looking at next, to either visit existing groups or set up a group.

AGE UK County Durham

CC introduced himself and explained his role at Age UK County Durham. He explained that one of the projects that Age UK are working in is the Digital Inclusion Programme. This is a service that helps people over the age of 50 with technology training. He explained that they can visit a person’s home and help them to access the internet and train them on safe ways to use this. They offer one to one training and can also visit community groups. It was pointed out that a lot of people will not know about the service and CC acknowledged this and has asked us if we can begin to hand out leaflets to this patient group and explain what they offer.

Actions:

Louise to ask receptionists to actively promote the digital inclusion programme by asking patients if they use the app and if they express that this is difficult for them to signpost to the team.

The next meeting date will be agreed shortly, and we will send this out via text to those with mobile numbers or letters for those who don’t. Please let us know if there is anyone who expresses interest in attending future groups.