THE MEDICAL GROUP - THE PATIENT GROUP
The Patient Group was started 9 years ago and in that time we have helped effect change in a number of areas; for example on-line appointments, telephone consultations, surgery opening hours, information on prescriptions and parking as well as encouraging patients to complete Healthwatch cancer screening surveys . We now have a membership of 36 patients, 18 male and 18 female with an age range of 34-83 and we meet most months. We discuss a range of health-related issues; for example recently we have discussed out of hours provision, patient transport, disposal of medicines and counselling services. We have a range of speakers and members take part in training and development events; for example a number of members joined with practice staff in becoming Dementia Friends.
Meetings in 2020:
2020 Meeting dates will be:-
Monday 27th January - Meadowfield
Tuesday 24th March – Ushaw Moor
Monday 1st June – Esh Winning
Tuesday 28th July – Tow Law
Monday 28th September – Langley Park
Tuesday 24th November - Meadowfield
All meetings are held at 6pm
Meetings are held on a rotational basis. Meetings are held on an evening between 6.00pm - 7.00pm. Minutes of The Patient Group meetings are displayed in each surgery and we also have our own column in the practice newsletter.
Members can also contribute via email or letter as per the Join our Patient Group section. Currently 2 members who are unable to attend meetings contribute in this way.
Please see Patient Survey Report tab for information about how our group assists the Practice in reviewing patient feedback.
Care Quality Commission
Members of our Patient Group have set up a sub group to review the CQC Standards . The Group are keen to be involved when CQC Inspectors carry out their inspection of The Medical Group. Sub group members have provided the following information about our group and it's involvement in practice issues; this information is also available on the Patient Group notice boards, which can be found in the reception area of each of our surgery sites:
The Medical Group is one of 31 GP practices who have come together to commission (or buy) local health services for people in North Durham. This consortium is known as The North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (North Durham CCG). On 1 April 2013 the North Durham CCG took full responsibility for planning and purchasing a range of health services for people in Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside. 5 members of our Patient Reference Group attend the monthly meetings of the North Durham CCG Patient Reference Group.
By law all GP practices in England must make sure that the care and treatment they provide meets national standards of quality and safety. Pratices must be registered with the Care Quality Commission whose role is to monitor, inspect and regulate services. As part of this process they inspect GP practices and talk to staff and patients and look at patients' experience of care, as well as checking systems and processes. The Patient Reference Group will be involved when the Medical Group is inspected and a small group of members have worked with the Practice Manager to prepare. In addition, the CQC inspectors will talk to patients attending the surgery whilst the inspection is taking place.
2016 Achievements
Please click on the link to view the PowerPoint of achievements made in 2016 PowerPoint Presentation
PLEASE NOTE; Members of our group are unable to deal with individual issues. If you have any concerns/complaints/comments please contact the Practice Manager, Mrs Lesley Hunter on 0191 3780651
THE PATIENT GROUP
MEMBERS WANTED
TO JOIN OUR
PATIENT GROUP
Ø Are you interested to learn more about the changes in the NHS and how these may affect you as patients?
Ø Would you like to pro-actively contribute to the development of services in the practice?
Ø Would you like to support the commissioning of health services for the wider population?
IF THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS IS YES PLEASE COMPLETE A SIGN UP FORM.
Complete the Patient Group Sign-up Form Online
If you prefer, you can download the sign up form as a pdf document, print it out, complete it and return it to the practice.
Download the pdf version of our sign up form
We are keen to gain feedback from a representative cross section of our practice population. We are aware that it can be difficult to be involved when you have work/caring committments but even if you are unable to attend our meetings you can still be involved by letting us know your views by e-mail or letter.
We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form. Please note that no medical information or questions will be responded to.
Many thanks for your assistance
The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.
The Patient Group Agenda & Minutes
Agenda Tuesday 15th December 2015
Minutes Meeting 15th December 2015
Minutes Meeting 21st January 2016
Dementia Friends Presentation 21st January 2016
Agenda Monday 22nd February 2016
Minutes Meeting Monday 22nd February 2016
Agenda Monday 22nd March 2016
Agenda Thursday 2st April 2016
Agenda Monday 23rd May 2016
Minutes Meeting 23rd May 2016
Agenda Tuesday 28th June 2016
Minutes Meeting 28th June 2016
Minutes Meeting 21st July 2016
Agenda Monday 22nd August 2016
Minutes Meeting 22nd August 2016
Agenda Thursday 20th October 2016
Minutes Thursday 20th October 2016
Agenda Monday 21st November 2016
Minutes Monday 21st November 2016
North Durham Patient Reference Group Minutes 6th December 2016
Agenda Tuesday 13th December 2016
Minutes Tuesday 13th December 2016
Agenda Thursday 26th January 2017
Minutes Thursday 27th January 2017
Agenda 27th February 2017
North Durham Reference Group - Scheduled Actions 07/03/17
North Durham Reference Group - Action Notes 07/03/17
Agenda Monday 27th March 2017
Minutes Monday 27th March 2017
Agenda Monday 22nd May 2017
Minutes Monday 22nd May 2017
Agenda Tuesday 27th June 2017
Minutes Tuesday 27th June 2017
Agenda Tuesday 19th September 2017
Minutes Tuesday 19th September 2017
Agenda Monday 20th November 2017
Minutes Monday 20th November 2017
North Durham PRG Minutes 7th November 17
North Durham PRG Minutes 5th December 17
North Durham PRG Minutes 9th January 2018
Agenda Tuesday 30th January 2018
Minutes Tuesday 30th January 2018
Agenda Tuesday 27th March 2018
Minutes Tuesday 27th March 2018
Agenda Monday 30th April 2018
Minutes Monday 30th April 2018
Agenda Tuesday 26th June 2018
Minutes Tuesday 26th June 2018
Agenda Monday 30th July 2018
Minutes Monday 30th July 2018
Agenda Tuesday 25th September 2018
Minutes Tuesday 25th September 2018
Agenda Monday 18th March 2019
Minutes Monday 18th March 2019
Agenda Tuesday 4th June 2019
Minutes Tuesday 4th June 2019
Agenda Tuesday 1st October 2019
Minutes Tuesday 1st October 2019
Agenda Monday 18th November 2019
Minutes Monday 18th November 2019
Agenda Monday 27th January 2020
2015 Patient Survey
371 questionnaires were returned; the results can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Practice Survey Report 2015
When the survey results were available The Patient Group:
Discussed findings of the survey with us at meetings on 16th April and 16th June 2015
Patient Group members attended each surgery site to talk to patients in the waiting room in order to ascertain more information about accessing our services, making an appointment, opening hours and overall experience.
The feedback was summarised:
Surgery | Accessing your GP Service | Making an Appointment | Opening Hours | Experience |
Ushaw Moor | Telephone | Wanted to be seen same day | Know when surgery is open | Majority found reception helpful |
| Told to ring back at 8am next day | 50/50 to see specific GP or not | Majority want to be seen early morning or during the day | Don't mind being asked problem |
| Hard to get through on the phone | Either seen on same day or waited upto 2 weeks | None wanted to be seen on a weekend | |
| Aware of online and telephone appointments | Majority seen at a convenient time to the patient | Majority agreed open at convenient time | |
Tow Law | Telephone or in person | Wanted to be seen same day | know when surgery is open | All found reception helpful |
| Quite easy to get through apart from Monday | 50/50 to see specific GP or not | All agreed open at convenient time | 50/50 mind being asked problem |
| 50/50 told to ring back at 8am next day | Majority seen the same day | Majority want to be seen early morning | |
| Aware of online and telephone appointments | All seen at a convenient time to the patient | None wanted to be seen on a weekend | |
Meadowfield | Telephone | Same day or next available | 50/50 knew surgery opening times | Some receptionists abrupt |
| Told to ring back at 8am next day or sit and wait | Did not want to see a specfic GP | 50/50 agreed open at convenient time | Majority did not want say problem |
| Difficult to get throug on phone | Most did not wait seen same day | Early morning or evening | |
| Aware of online and telephone appointments | Majority seen at a convenient time to the patient | Couple wanted weekends | |
Langley Park | In person, telephone or online | Same day or next available | Know when surgery is open | All found reception helpful |
| Majority found it easy to get through on phone | 50/50 to see specific GP or not | All agreed open at convenient time | 50/50 mind being asked problem |
| 50/50 told to ring back at 8am next day | Either seen on same day or waited upto a week | Majority want to be seen early morning | |
| Aware of online and telephone appointments | All seen at a convenient time to the patient | None wanted to be seen on a weekend | |
Esh Winning | Telephone or in person | See same day, next day, next routine appt | Majority know when surgery open | All found reception helpful |
| Easy to get through on phone apart from 8am | 50/50 to see specific GP or not | Majority open convenient time | 50/50 mind being asked problem |
| Majority asked to ring back at 8am next day | Either seen on same day or waited upto a week | Morning, during day & evening opening | |
| 50/50 know about telephone & online appt | All seen at a convenient time to the patient | Some wanted weekend opening | |
| | | | |
Comments | | | | |
Ushaw Moor | Some requested air con in waiting area | Opening during luch time | Prescriptions ready for next day | Walk-in appointments |
Tow Law | Happy with service | | | |
Meadowfield | More walk-in appts | Appt line & reception line | In past go to A&E due to no appts | Address answering of phone quickly |
Langley Park | All very happy with service | Cosy building | | |
Esh Winning | All children should be seen on same day | Hard to see GP of choice | Everyone rings at same time | |
4. findings discussed with GP's and Patient Group members and the following actions were agreed:
- Further staff training re. not asking patients to call back the following day
- Promote On Line Booking
2016 Patient Survey
The results of the Practice Survey 2016 are now available below; these will also be discussed with The Patient Group on 21st November 2016. 250 surveys were sent out and 131 returned.
Practice Survey Report 2016