Oct. 6, 2026

Agenda

The Vine Medical Centre

 

Agenda for Patient Participation Group Meeting

                      Tuesday 6 October at 1pm at The SURGERY

 

1.                  Welcome, introductions and apologies

2              Minutes of the last meeting/TEAMS

3              Actions from the last meeting

4             Hospital Referrals: Advice & Guidance system.

5              IT Support: Is there More To Do ?

6              News from the Practice

7              Any other business

8              Date of next meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes

Vine Road Medical Centre PPG meeting 06.10.2026

Attendees

John FitzPatrick(chair) Iona Sutherland, Daniel Alderson-Smith, Estelle Laybourne , Carla Wansey-Jackson, Erica Hirsch , Helen Jeffrey.

Apologies-, John Coope, Michael Crow,  Diana Elder and Judy Lanaway 

 

Meeting notes:

Generated by Granola transcript. Be sure to check for accuracy.

• Review and Amendments to Previous Meeting Minutes:

• Technical Issues and Meeting Logistics to last online meeting:  Iona and the team experienced significant technical difficulties with Microsoft Teams, on that date of 22nd April impacting meeting participation however Iona confirmed that it was only that day and that NHS DMIS had resumed and were operating as normal. John Coope had issues joining on teams due his new computer had not synched with Microsoft in time for the meeting however it is now. It was agreed that we will continue to alternate between live to face meeting and Teams meeting for the foreseeable.

 

• Practice Updates and Staffing Changes:
•  
• New Practice Pharmacist: Iona indicated that the position has been filled and the new pharmacist ,Inga will start soon.

 

• Increase in Patient numbers and increase in recruitment: There is an abundance of staff joining us because the practice list is growing constantly, up to 9,000 patients and counting. Works are going on next to reception to create a new clinical room because the need for more room. A new young lady will start next week who tasked with doing phlebotomy plus reception plus admin. The practice will have a new doctor starting next Monday12th October, Dr. Melissa Phillips.

 

• Further GP recruitment: there will be a short break in recruitment but Olivia goes on MAT leave in February .A male replacement doctor has been recruited, and the practice hopes to keep him long term. Another doctor may be needed in April as Lynn is likely to retire.The new staff will be added to the website

Hospital referrals and ICB reorganisation

• The ICB’s Referral Management Service has been disbanded. Hospital departments now triage their own referrals.
• Hospitals may decline referrals, ask for more tests, or turn them into Advice & Guidance. The practice sees this as collaborative and not increasing. It does mean more work for Giselle, the referrals liaison.
• Patients already under a consultant can contact that department directly without involving their GP.
• Consultants own the results of tests they request. The practice receives clinic letters, not full results.
• Waiting lists remain long everywhere. More changes are expected, but no details are known yet.

 Flu and COVID vaccinations

• The practice is not running a flu or COVID campaign this year. The fee per vaccine no longer covers costs, and stock has to be ordered a year ahead.
• Patients should use local pharmacies, for example Kent Road Pharmacy,East Molesey or on West Molesey high street, and book early.
• Other contracted vaccines, such as shingles, continue as normal.

 Patient engagement and “Meet the PPG” day

• About six patients were spoken to. Feedback on the practice was very positive.
• Some patients knew little about the NHS App.
• The admin option on the triage form isn’t obvious. Patients don’t realise they can use it for admin queries.
• The PPG agreed to hold sessions about every six months, with better advertising (flyers, signs, website, Facebook).
• Ideas raised:
• a stand at community events
• a generic PPG email address- (Daniel to investigate)
• a PPG pinboard in the waiting room
• QR-code videos for the NHS App and the self-service blood pressure/weight machine ( Daniel to organise and enlist Carla’s help with short videos)
• set days with a PPG volunteer helping at the machine
• CQC is expected within the next year and usually contacts the PPG first. The PPG needs a nominated contact, John Coope to request any volunteers.
• The practice website is now NHS England standardised, so the practice has little control over its content.
• A practice-wide email or text to patients was discussed and deferred (“baby steps”).

 

 Doctor numbers and list

• The practice has partners, salaried GPs and an advanced practitioner (exact numbers to be confirmed).
• The patient list remains open to anyone inside the boundary.
• New assisted-living flats next to the Royal Cambridge Home will bring new patients. Birchgrove retirement flats nearby at Hampton Court Station are delayed but may add to the patient numbers.

6. Next meeting

Proposed for Thursday 4th March  at 13.00 , this will be a meeting online with TEAMS, the invitation will be sent out by John Coope or Daniel, a week ahead of the scheduled meeting , whereby these minutes will be circulated again to refresh memories.

 

Action points

Action

Owner

Add new staff to the website

Iona

Review the triage form so the admin option is clearer

Iona

Put up a PPG pinboard and sign after the decorating

Practice

Set up a generic PPG email address

Daniel

Nominate a PPG member to monitor the PPG email

PPG to propose

Nominate a PPG contact for the CQC inspection

John Coope to request volunteers

Plan the next Meet the PPG session and give the practice plenty of notice for flyers and signs

PPG

Refresh the PPG flyer

Carla

Look into QR-code videos for the NHS App and the BP/weight machine

Daniel

Look into a PPG stand at local community events

PPG

Contact Callie if NHS App training is wanted (the offer stands)

PPG

Email the Practice Manager with follow-ups

John Coope/Daniel

 

 

Next Meeting is arranged for