Patient Participation Group

• Time: 7:00pm
• Location: Parklands Surgery – Downstairs Waiting Room
• Chair: Jen Capelin – Practice Manager (PM)
• Practice Representatives:
  • Lucy Averill – Reception Manager (RM)
  • Lisa Boyt – Nurse Manager (NM)
• Minute Taking: Proposed use of Heidi AI note-taking system – all present agreed.
• Estimated Meeting Duration: 1 hour

Welcome from the Practice Manager.

Introduction of practice team members and PPG attendees

Practice Updates

• Current staffing overview
• Updates from the management team
• Introduction of new GPs
• Healthcare Assistant training and development

Attendees were welcomed and thanked for attending, with acknowledgment of the challenge of evening meetings.

Alternative meeting times (e.g. afternoons) may be considered in future.

Introductions

NM Lisa introduced (succeeded Linda Barrett following retirement after 25 years).

Update shared on Linda’s retirement and transition support.

PM confirmed permanent appointment following previous interim role.

Staffing updates:

• Departure of Dr Abdallah (relocation) and Dr Kamal (career development)
• Introduction of new salaried GPs: Dr Bhatti and Dr Osunlana – pronounced Osh-un-lana (interest in women’s health; training in coil fitting ongoing)

Update on patient list reallocation—ongoing, expected to be completed within one month.

Nursing Team Update

Introduction of Nurse Associate roles:

• Lottie (qualified)
• Charlotte (in training)

Role sits between Healthcare Assistant and Practice Nurse.

Responsibilities include treatment room duties, supporting clinics, and developing extended clinical skills.

Review of Actions and Progress Since Last PPG Meeting (April 2025)

Communication Improvements

Practice Facebook Page

• Now reaching over 80 followers
• Discussion: ideas to increase engagement
• What types of information would patients find most helpful?
  • Practice statistics
  • NHS national campaigns
  • Local health services and support

Practice Website

• New website launched on 12 March 2026
• Improved navigation and clearer contact options
• Integrated translation functionality to improve accessibility

Patient Education and Community Support

• External organisations invited to host information stalls and advice sessions within the practice
• Examples include:
  • Help the Aged
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Local support services

Waiting Room Information Screen

• New digital screen installed in the downstairs waiting room
• Displays local health information, NHS campaigns, and practice updates

PPG Communication

• Introduction of a PPG email communication group
• Quarterly updates now shared with members

Discussion:

• Developing this into a regular patient newsletter
• Options for distribution (email and printed copies in the waiting room)
• Suggestions for newsletter content

Review of Previous Actions

• Practice Facebook Page Now live with approx.. 80 followers.
• Need to increase engagement and visibility.

Suggestions:

• Share via local Facebook groups and “Nextdoor
• Encourage PPG to share posts
• Include more engaging content (staff updates, introductions, news)
• PPG Engagement currently low
• Aim to recruit more members and ideally a patient chair.

Suggestions:

• Use more informal/social content to attract interest
• Introduce staff profiles online

Website Update

New website launched (12 March).

Improvements:

• Easier navigation
• Translation into multiple languages
• Managed service for quicker updates
• Request for patient feedback on usability.

Future plans:

• Educational video content from local GP lead.

Patient Education & Community Engagement

Increased collaboration with local services:

• Social prescribing
• Support organisations (e.g. Home Start)
• Previous involvement from DWP (currently paused)
• Pop-up information sessions held in practice.
• Aim to continue expanding community support presence.
• Suggestion to advertise via local magazines/community groups.

Waiting Room Communication

New digital screen installed for practice-controlled messaging.

Will be used for:

• Practice updates
• Local services information

Feedback:

• Posters currently difficult to read; screen seen as more effective.

Communication with Patients

Quarterly email updates currently sent to PPG mailing list.

Aim to:

• Expand mailing list Develop a newsletter (print and digital)
• Strong emphasis on increasing social media presence to reach more patients.

PCN PPG Patient Event – Summer Health and Wellbeing Day

Parklands Surgery is working alongside neighbouring practices within the ChAMP Primary Care Network to host a community health event.

This is a great opportunity to meet other practice PPG members.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday 16 June (time TBC – approximately 10:30am–12:30pm)
• Venue: Local Rugby Club
• Theme: “Just One Thing” – small steps to improve wellbeing

Organisations attending include:

• Chichester Wellbeing
• Carers Support
• Social Prescribing teams
• HILS Meals on Wheels
• Write Easy
• Local walking groups
• DHSS representatives
• Local artist
• Dementia Support Service (Tangmere)

Refreshments will be provided. Last year’s event welcomed over 150 patients.

Discussion:

How can the PPG help promote this event within the community?

Collaboration with Other PPGs Partnership with Lavant Road Surgery PPG.

Invitation to attend their wellbeing event (approx. 150 attendees last year). Opportunity for shared learning and increased patient engagement.

Practice priorities for next 12 months

Moving Towards Paperless Prescription Requests

From 1 April 2026, the practice will begin gradually introducing paperless prescription requests.

This change aims to:

• Improve patient safety
• Reduce the risk of lost or incorrect requests
• Ensure prescriptions are requested only when medications are due
• Support safer prescribing processes

Patients will be encouraged to use:

• Online services
• The NHS App

Support will be available for anyone who feels less confident using digital systems.

Discussion

• How can we best support patients during this transition?
• Evening help group for the less tech-abled?

Pharmacy Ordering Changes

The practice will be stopping automatic prescription ordering from large chain pharmacies.

This change is being introduced because:

• Many prescriptions are being requested without patients actively ordering them
• This leads to medication waste and unnecessary NHS costs
• Patients sometimes receive medicines they did not request or need

The practice will continue working closely with local pharmacies, including Kamsons and Stephens, who provide a collaborative and patient-focused service.

Key Priority: Paperless Prescriptions

Move towards digital prescribing in line with NHS direction.

Promotion of NHS App and online services.

Support available for patients:

• One-to-one help setting up apps/accounts – support group date 7th May at 2pm.
• Alternative options for those unable to use digital services

Emphasis on safety and efficiency benefits.

PPG Chairperson

The practice is seeking a volunteer PPG Chairperson to help support the group and provide a patient voice in discussions.

Role overview:

• Help coordinate meetings
• Support communication between patients and the practice
• Encourage constructive discussion and ideas

Future Opportunities

PPG Chairperson Recruitment remains a priority.

Flu Vaccination Clinics – Community Engagement

The practice vaccinates approximately 2,000 patients during our Saturday flu clinics each October.

This represents a valuable opportunity to engage with a large number of patients, particularly those in vulnerable groups.

Discussion:

Ideas to enhance these clinics, for example:

• Health promotion stands (blood pressure awareness, diabetes prevention)
• Information from local support services
• PPG promotion and patient sign-up
• NHS App support and digital assistance

Improving Patient Access to Information

Possible areas for development:

• Increasing awareness and use of the NHS App
• Promoting self-care resources and pharmacy services
• Expanding patient information within the waiting room

Future Opportunities

Flu Clinics (October) Opportunity to engage large numbers of patients (approx.2,000).

Ideas:

• PPG information stand
• Leaflets and sign-up opportunities
• Light-touch engagement (no disruption to flow)

Any Other Business (AOB)

Opportunity for attendees to raise brief suggestions or questions relating to practice services.

Where appropriate, items may be taken forward for further review and discussion at future meetings.

General Discussion / Patient Feedback

Importance of improving patient communication and engagement.

Suggestions:

• Increase awareness of online consultation tools (eRequest widely praised).
• Continue improving phone and online access systems.
• Promote wider use of digital tools while supporting non-digital patients.

Positive feedback received on:

• eRequest system efficiency
• Website improvements

Closing Remarks

• Appreciation expressed to attendees for participation and feedback.
• Acknowledgement of ongoing improvements and commitment to continued development.
• Meeting closed with encouragement for continued engagement and ideas