Presentation – Social Prescribing
Emma Drew – CEO Robin Hood Foundation spoke about the work the organisation do with the
PCN – presentation included with the notes.
PPG members engaged with the presentation and the key points/concerns put to Emma with
responses were:
• Value and purpose of social prescribing in helping patients address health issues. It isn’t
an alternative to GP services but part of a bigger holistic view of healthcare.
• SP is only for people over 18, what is offered to younger people? Funding request to plug
this gap denied.
• Is SP rationed as a service? A balanced approach to demand is used for delivery of the
service.
• Do SPs work with other groups/signpost to other services? Yes.
• How is a person referred to SP? This can come from various avenues not just GPs
Actions/minutes from last meeting
Discussion re surveys and value and what actions taken and were patients listened to and was
feedback actually used and when changes were made were patients informed.
Nina Graham talked through Friends and Family text with option of free text and responses
received. Charter patient commented that this had happened after appointment and had fed
back. This information is then reported on quarterly at Charter partner meeting. It was asked why
all the practices weren’t doing this way. Each practice in Goldstone PCN uses Friends and Family
text but not the option for free text. Amanda Jones to discuss with Nina Graham.
A question arose re GDPR ( General data protection regulations) and contacting patients –
Amanda Jones explained that patients could be contacted if direct patient care but otherwise
can’t be contacted for things like PPG unless signed up on patient registration forms as classed as
‘direct marketing’.
Date Action Who Target Date Complete
07.12.22 To circulate criteria by which
web developers get on to
the preferred supplier list
Nina Graham End of year attached to
December email
Shared
07.12.22 To provide link to the GPAD
data
Gemma
Clayton
End of year attached to
December email
Shared
07.12.22 Submit feedback to Trinity
Medical re their website and
new requests to go on the
website
Group End of Feb ‘23 Shared and feedback
received
07.12.22 Volunteer expertise, if
available, re questionnaire
design
Group End of Jan ‘23 Discussed at meeting
16.03.23 – practices
using Friends and
Family text messages
07.12.22 Volunteer as survey Guinea
Pigs
Group End of Jan ‘23 n/a as survey work
didn’t happen
07.12.22 Circulate New Patient Pack
from WellBN
Shilpa Patel End of Jan ‘23 n/a pack is staff pack
not patient pack – (
updated after
checking with Shilpa)
07.12.22 Follow up with
Commissioners re updated
“Roles in GP practice leaflet
for Brighton”
Gemma
Clayton
ongoing Completed and
attached to December
email
Practice Managers/Partners to talk through what happening in practices
Amanda Jones, Trinity
• Short trial phase re Accurx to replace econsult system. Short timescales to make a decision re
using this system – information re changes shared with patients via texts and posters in waiting
rooms. Feedback from those in the room was that the new form so much easier to use and
don’t have to fill in as much information.
• Telephony upgrade
This has been delayed by NHSE but hoping to go live May time
• Website
Changes have been made – patient feedback taken into consideration. Patient feedback at the
meeting said website clunky, too many colours, should have tabs at top and that staff groups
not on site. Staff groups in section – about us Our Staff « Trinity Medical Centre
(trinitymedicalcentrehove.co.uk)
• Additional Capacity
Extra remote GP appointments available using GPDQ – not suitable for those that need Face to
face and aimed at new conditions not existing. Patients have been made aware of this new
option
• Reception Desk Screens
How do patients feel if these are taken down? Staff would like that to happen – group very
positive about taking down and agreed would be a good thing to happen
Nina Graham, Charter
1
st April moving to ACCRX patient contact form rather than e consult
• IT Digital Manager recruited to start at Charter and then to work across the PCN practices
• 2 new GPs recruited to and a Reception Manager recruitment process currently happening
• Enhanced access/ services provided 6-8 and at weekends. Currently provided by organisation
called HERE but being brought back to the GP practices to manage from 1st April with support
from all the PCNs in Brighton & Hove and the Brighton & Hove GP Federation.
About Us (brightonandhovefed.co.uk)
• Charter website – feedback given at meeting that social prescribing not on site – social
prescribers mentioned under staff at practice – Our Staff – Charter Medical Centre but not a
specific area
Lindsay Coleman, WellBN –
• Changes to the current GP contract as requested by the meeting chair as item . This was a general
item for discussion which WellBN agreed to discuss in their update slot. Practices were currently
waiting for more information re access to services and what the information means as well as other
updates to the contract. There was some discussion re this item and what information had been
share by the media and what patients in the room had heard. Agreed to bring update to next
meeting when available., WellBN were prepared to discuss it under their update.
• CQC update – LC was asked where the practice was re the CQC. After the initial CQC report the
practice were given actions to follow up on and have now had an interim report which was good
and CQC happy that work had been done. A further visit is due which will include Benfield as newly
merged – waiting for new date. Once CQC completed will be on the WellBN website.

Goldstone PPG Meeting
Notes / Action Log
Date: Wednesday 15th March
Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Location: Trinity Medical Centre and via MS Teams
Location: Trinity Medical Centre/ MSTeams
For those new to the meeting – Goldstone Patient participation group is made up of three practices
Charter Medical Centre, Trinity Medical Centre and WellBN (Brunswick site, Benfield Valley Healthcare hub
site and Burwash site).
The practice representatives are;
Lindsay Coleman – Lead Partner at WellBN
Nina Graham – Managing Partner at Charter Medical Centre
Amanda Jones – Practice Manager at Trinity Medical Centre
Gemma Clayton Primary care Network Manager
Chair – Kate Heath and note taker Nicola Thomas – both Trinity patients
The Handbook and Terms of Reference have been sent out and printed copies shared at the initial meeting
and this can be shared again.
Key points from the handbook
Aims and Objectives
To give patients and practice staff the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of mutual
interest.
To provide a means for patients to make suggestions about the healthcare services they receive.
To contribute feedback to the practice and explore, propose and monitor improvements,
developments and change.
To support health awareness and patient education.
What can a PPG do?
Discuss constructive suggestions for improving the practice, and share concerns that could
affect the wider practice population.
Organise health focused events with the practice, i.e. healthy eating awareness as an information
event for all practice patients to attend.
Create a patient survey with practice staff, to get feedback about the practice from the rest of
the patient population.
Design a newsletter for the practice, to provide regular updates to patients?
Assist the practice in making sure their website is ‘Patient Friendly’?
Engage with the local community, consider fundraising events, and ensure the PPG is
representative.
Invite health and voluntary professionals to PPG meetings, for PPG members to remain informed
and updated about local opportunities for patients.
Work with the Social Prescribing Link Workers and Health & Wellbeing Coaches in order to
promote group activities and local community links
What can a PPG not do?
PPG patient members cannot provide any medical advice to other patients, or deal with
personal/medical issues or individual patient complaints during the meeting. These should be
dealt with outside the meeting following the practices already established procedures.
Whilst all constructive suggestions for improving practice will be taken into consideration, PPG
members are not decision makers or stakeholders

Goldstone Primary Care Network

Charter Medical Centre, Trinity Medical Centre and WellBN (Brighton Health & Wellbeing Centre and Benfield Valley Healthcare hub)

Patient Participation Community Group Agenda

Date: Wednesday 7^th December 2022

Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Location: Trinity Medical Centre/ MSTeams

Agenda

• Welcome to Goldstone Primary Care Network GC then handover to Chair KH

• Introduction for new group members – Chair

• Practice Managers/Partners to talk through what happening in practices and what support they would like– 30 min – Practice Managers/All

• Actions from last meeting – GC

• Video clip – GC/All

• Frequency of future meetings Chair/All

Goldstone Primary Care Network (PCN)

Charter Medical Centre, Trinity Medical Centre and WellBN (Brighton Health & Wellbeing Centre and Benfield Valley Healthcare hub)

Patient Participation Community Group (PPG)Agenda

Date: Wednesday 7^th December 2022

Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Location: Trinity Medical Centre/ MSTeams

Minutes

1. Welcome to Goldstone Primary Care Network.

• Practice managers introduced.

Lindsay Coleman Practice Lead and Partner WellBN

Shilpa Patel Lead Pharmacist & Partner WellBN

Nina Graham Managing Partner Charter Medical centre

Amanda James Practice Manager Trinity Medical centre

Gemma Clayton PCN Manager gemma.clayton@nhs.net

Kate Heath Chair

• Handbook and terms of reference distributed. Attention drawn to the Ground rules section of the leaflet as a reminder of the mutual commitments.
• Request from the room to open a door and improve air circulation ref Covid etc.

2. Actions from last meeting

• See table below
• A question had been raised at the previous meeting regarding “Roles in a GP practice” and Gemma had found a document from a previous area with that information. Gemma had spoken to the Brighton commissioners to update the document for Brighton so it could be distributed to practices. It could be shared in new patient packs, on websites and print outs in practices.

3. Introduction for new group members

As the group was large and there were some time constraints, it was decided to simply indicate by show of hands how many group members were from each practice to be done after the practice managers / partners talks:

Charter 2 ; WellBN 12; Trinity 3

Thanks were given to Shilpa (WellBN) for her work in drawing in new group members.

4. Practice Managers/Partners to talk through what happening in practices

Amanda James, Trinity Medical

• Trinity have been invited by the Integrated care board to consider different web providers. Amanda requested feedback on the current website and ideas for things people would like to see on a practice website. Submission of the requested work would be Feb 2023 and it was estimated the new website should be up and running by April 2023. Feedback was requested sooner rather than later, though it would be accepted at any time. Feedback to be submitted via email to Gemma.
• Trinity medical will implement a phone system upgrade. NHS digital wants all GP practices to go to a cloud based system. The new system would include a call ring back service that patients could use so they don’t need to remain in long hold queues. Notification of the new system would be made by: Notice in the practice; notice on the web page; text message to those who have agreed to receive such messages. Q. How to reach patients who are not internet / mobile users?
• Trinity would like to run a patient survey and Amanda invited questions that the group felt might be useful on such a survey. To be submitted via email to Gemma.

Nina Graham, Charter Medical

• Nina commented that Charter Medical had added a third question to their Friends & Family test requesting “Any Feedback”. Nina was concerned that, so far, the feedback had not been great.
• Phase II of works was underway creating more space to facilitate growth. Charter were expecting their patient numbers to hit 30,000 by the end of the year. Phase II would include the created of a clinical hub space to enable multidisciplinary working. Q. How to maintain patient confidentiality in such an environment. Nina will bear that in mind when setting up the space next year, but it would certainly include telephone headsets.

Lindsay Coleman, WellBN

• Lindsay wanted to update the group regarding a data gathering exercise by Department of Health (DoH), known as GPAD, where national data would be gathered from GP appointment systems to create a league table based on 3 main questions. This league table was to address a question of “patient satisfaction with access”.
  • No of GP Appointments vs other appointments
  • Total No of appointments per 100k ( a statistical measure)
  • Time of appointment being logged vs time the patient was seen

Lindsay pointed out that such a league table may give false views if taken in isolation, e.g. it would be easy to increase the no of appointments per 100K by shortening appointment times and move up the league table but would this actually be an improvement?

Q. Can practices or patients feedback to the DoH that this is not useful?

Q. What can PPG group do to help mitigate any perceived detriment resulting from this survey?

Q. Will practices be doing a huge amount of work to “fix” reputational damage and if so what’s really in it for the patient? However patient surveys focusing on practice improvements for staff and patients are still useful.

There was discussion around patient surveys, web communications, talking to friends and family etc., but concluding opinion was that spending too much time on such “fixing reputation” activities was not in the interests of patients.

Q. Can surveys and results be used to bid for funding if service provision gaps are identified? Maybe if funding is available down the line.

• Lindsay invited the group to volunteer if they (or they knew anyone who) had experience of questionnaire design in order to avoid leading questions and unconscious bias in creating questionnaires. Volunteers to guinea pig questionnaires were also invited.
• Practices were cautioned against using surveys as Vanity Projects and the group invited the PCN to consider aligning the practice patient survey across the 3 practices.
• It was noted that the government GP Practice survey was due in January and not to confuse this with surveys by individual practices. A comment was made about the dangers of Feedback Fatigue. Only a small proportion of patients ever reply. Q. how to get feedback from a broad representation of patients and be inclusive of those who don’t have digital access
• As part of the discussion it came up that WellBN had designed a New Patient Pack which had positive feedback from the practice. Shilpa was invited to share this pack with the PPG group. The group invited the practices to ensure accessibility for such information e.g. languages, disabilities, people with little or no access to social media.
• It was commented that a group member had googled “Goldstone PCN” and only Trinity came up.

5. Video clip

This was a fairly simple but interesting video about how the NHS is organised in England and can be found on the Kingsfund website

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/how-does-nhs-in-england-work

other info can be found at

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/explain

Q. Would it be useful to have a link to this on practice websites?

6. Frequency of future meetings.

• To be roughly quarterly unless issues came up such that an interim meetings would be useful. Smaller action groups could meet as required if they were set up.
• Q. Would a WhatsApp group be useful? – Maybe for the smaller action groups and not everyone has a smart phone / WhatsApp.
• Remote access to future meetings to continue.

Any other Business

• Attention was drawn to the last page of the PPG handbook where it states that copies of minutes were to be shared with practice managers for distribution to practice staff and to be made available to patients as appropriate. Q. How this was to be done? Draft minutes would be submitted to Gemma and Kate. Final minutes would be circulated to the practice managers by Gemma . Practices would make printed copies available in reception and consider adding a link on the PPG part of their respective webpages. There is also a PPG notice board in Trinity practice and possibly in the other two practices as well.
• A comment from the group was made regarding the success of a social prescribing event “Goldstone Real Food”. It became clear that social prescribing was a fairly unknown subject in the patient group. Q. Does social prescribing have to go through the GP? Not necessarily, some aspects can be self-referred. It was concluded that social prescribing should be more widely promoted and events made more widely known, especially to patients who are digitally challenged and who may be the patients who could benefit the most from these services. No specific actions came out of this, but maybe this could be on the agenda for the next meeting or a sub group formed for this specific subject.

Actions

Attendees

Acronyms

Goldstone PCN – Goldstone Primary Care Network –

Since the NHS was created in 1948, the population has grown and people are living longer. Many people are living with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease or suffer with mental health issues and may need to access their local health services more often.

To meet these needs, GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as primary care networks (PCNs).

PCNs build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care for people close to home. Clinicians describe this as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively caring for the people and communities they serve.

Each of the 1,250 PCNs across England are based on GP registered patient lists, typically serving natural communities of between 30,000 to 50,000 people (with some flexibility). They are small enough to provide the personal care valued by both people and GPs, but large enough to have impact and economies of scale through better collaboration between GP practices and others in the local health and social care system. Goldstone PCN is the biggest in Brighton with 78,000 patients.

PCNs are led by clinical directors who may be a GP, general practice nurse, clinical pharmacist or other clinical profession working in general practice and a PCN Manager/lead.

ARRS

Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS)

These staff support the PCNs working in a number of practices, see the leaflet attached in the email for more information about what the roles mean.

• Clinical Pharmacist.
• Pharmacy Technician.
• Social Prescribing Link Worker.
• Health and Wellbeing Coach.
• Care Co-ordinator.
• Physician Associate.
• First Contact Physiotherapists.

Goldstone Primary Care Network

Charter Medical Centre, Trinity Medical Centre and WellBN (Brighton Health & Wellbeing Centre and Benfield Valley Healthcare hub)

Patient Participation Community Group Agenda

Date: Wednesday 14th September

Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm

Location: Trinity Medical Centre

Agenda

· Welcome to Goldstone Primary Care Network– 15 mins

· Questions – 5 mins

· Martyn Yeats – Introduction to Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)/Community group; what they are, what the roles are in a PPG that patients who volunteer take on, examples of things that the PPG have been involved in– 20 mins

· Questions – 5 mins

· Break for time to read the PPG /Community document / cup of tea / any volunteers if would like to be a chair /role in PPG – 30 mins

· Ideas for how we get interest in our PPG/Community group – 5 mins

· Practice Managers/Partners to talk through what happening in practices – 20 min

· Next steps – a chair/admin support/ next meeting/ action log /share contact details