PPG Minutes

11 Dec 2025 @1pm

Present:
  • Daryl Heliwell (DH) - Chair
  • Linda O’Hara (LOH)- Vice Chair
  • Yvonne Rorke (YR)- Secretary
  • Andrew Finch (AF)- Communications
  • Michele Davey - Assistant Practice Manager
  • Dr Jess Martin - Partner
  • Dave McDonald (DMc)
Apologies:
  • Claire Rowley (CR)
  • June Roff (JR)- Secretary
  • Andrew Bowen (AB)
  • John Lawrence (JL)

Meeting opened by Chair DH who welcomed DMc to his first committee meeting, and introductions made to DMc by the committee and Warders.

Previous PPG Minutes 18 Sept 2025

· Photo board in waiting room of partners, doctors and senior staff. Michele & Dr Martin advised that this is not feasible at the moment as the practice is undergoing a lot of changes and the focus is on the poll for the new building for the practice.

· Membership to National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP). Michele has joined NAPP a couple of weeks ago but has been unable to log in, once she has been able to, she will share login with PPG committee.

· FLU clinics- Michele & Dr Martin thanked the committee volunteers for their assistance with the flu clinics, saying it really helped. LOH & YR advised that patients were also grateful and thanked the volunteers on the day. Michele advised that should Covid vaccinations be done with FLU in 2026 she will not book them in a broad band, as these injections can only be done by a doctor and not the nurses. This should ease the pinch points in the clinic that were felt this year. Apparently, the pharmacy at East St was also offering Flu vaccinations on the last Saturday of the Flu clinic leading to some confusion by patient’s and extra pressure on the parking. Dr Martin advised that they are not able to prevent this as it is an independent facility and the pharmacy are paid for each vaccination.

Dr Martin Update:

· Dr Martin advised that Dr Collins, Dr Zaharah Hanif & Dr Nevaykha Sivakumaran are all in place working, plus a number of GP training placements. Dr Hanif & Dr Sivakumaran have had DR Claxton’s patients split between them.

· Due to the severity of the Flu this year the practice has hired a locum advanced practitioner nurse in Respiratory illness for the winter. She is in on a Thursday and has a full list each week.

Anima Feedback:

· Michele had received about 20 Anima feedback responses, she said it is like marmite some love it, others hate it. LOH has kindly offered to collate the responses. LOH noted that on looking at the replies quickly, that we do not know the age band of any of the replies. AF will add this to the questionnaire. Action: LOH to collate Anima replies & AF to add age band to the questionnaire going forward.

· Michele advised that since June the practice has received 25,000 Anima requests, which is 5,000/month or 1,500/week. Since October the NHS have said that Warders must accept Anima requests until 6:20pm. This puts pressure on the practice as reception closes at 6:30pm and Dr Martin said that when she was duty doctor, she had 4 Anima at this time and she had to ring all patients back to advise them what to do depending on their situation.

· Dr Martin advised that the NHS software used to construct Anima is risk averse and that individual practices are unable to change the format. Michele advised Warders have removed some replica question sets before it was launched and essentially it will remain as it currently is.

· Michele advised that the receptionists are still completing around 50% of Anima requests

Potential Healthcare Sessions:

· Discussion around topics for potential healthcare sessions, agreed it might be best to discuss with wider PPG meeting in January 2026 at 6:30pm. Two dates proposed in Jan - 21st or 28th Suggestions for carers were discussed and Michele wondered about a simple diagram for carers to guide them to what support is available. Action: Michele to check work diary and come back to us re Jan date. Michele will draft a simple carers support diagram and give to AF for the next newsletter.

· Talk re potential venues discussed as warders waiting room max is 30 people. Cost of hire village hall etc is the barrier. LOH is a verger at a local church and will enquire about a speaker attending a regular church coffee morning.

Warder’s Website:

· DMc advised that there is still a button on the website that takes you around in circles without taking you to Anima. Action: Michele will have a look at the website and contact the IT people who mange it and many other GP websites.

AOB:

· Date for next committee meeting agreed 19th March 2026 (probably 1pm) at Warders practice East Street.

· There was no other business and DH brought the meeting to a close.