Since January this year we have been giving updates on our work for Trio readers, and I am really pleased at how many people over the past few weeks have given very positive unsolicited feedback on their latest experiences with the Practice.
Our role is to work with both the practice and those registered with them to improve the overall patient experience and help things run as smoothly as possible
We recently held our quarterly meeting and used it as an opportunity to prioritise and plan our activities over the next 3 months.
Many patients have told us that they find the online Klinik system awkward and at times frustrating to use whilst others find any form of online activity difficult. General practice today provides a much wider range of skills and specialities than in the days where everything was routed through a GP. Our paramedic is specialised in evaluation of acute conditions, whilst we have nursing staff highly qualified and experienced in, for example, diabetes and asthma.
When you need medical help it’s important that you see the person best able to help you as quickly as possible. A big benefit of the Klinik system is it provides a very quick method of routing your problem to the most able person to help you, i.e. triage – a procedure that has been used successfully in A&E departments for many years.
The PPG has, as a direct result of feedback from patients, organised a walk-in help session on Klinik for patients at The John Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge on Tuesday 22nd July between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
Information sheets will be available in both Port Isaac and Bridge receptions, and there will be information on the Practice Facebook page.
Running a General Practice these days is a very complex business, and so that the PPG members have informed knowledge, we will be spending time in the practice in reception and at some of the in-house staff training that is periodically organised, to ensure we are best able to help give accurate answers to any patients we speak to.
A member of the PPG will be attending the next training session on Mental Wellbeing which will be held in the afternoon on 17th June. Being a member of practice staff can be difficult at times as regrettably they can sometimes face aggressive behaviour so training in how to handle this effectively and deal with the stress it puts them under is vital.
Maintaining staff skills and wellbeing is essential to the practice so they can deliver good healthcare to our patients. To do this effectively means occasionally we need to close for an afternoon.
PPG members are going to ensure that both Port Isaac and Bridge receptions always have up to date and easily accessible information on the PPG available.
Our role is an important one that each practice is required by the NHS to have in place and by working together with both practice and patients we can help to provide the best local healthcare possible.
We would really like one or two more members so that we can reach as many people as possible who are registered with Port Isaac practice. You are most welcome wherever in the catchment area you live.
Our meetings are held at the Betjeman Centre at Wadebridge which has accessible rooms and is convenient for all.
If you would like to join please contact us through the website (click the About the Surgery tab and follow the PPG link) or leave your contact details at either reception.
John Quilter
Chair Port Isaac Practice PPG.