Jan. 21, 2026
Agenda
Agenda for Patient Participation Group Meeting
Wednesday 21 January 2026 On-Line by TEAMS at 1pm
1. Welcome, introductions and apologies
2 Minutes of the last meeting/TEAMS
3 Actions from the last meeting
4 Update on Hospital Referrals
5 Report on Flu & Covid Vaccinations
6 Open Day IT Support Initiative/Discussion
7 News from the Practice
8 Volunteers for Vice Chair and Secretary
9 Any other business
10 Date of next meeting.
Minutes
Vine Road Medical Centre PPG meeting 21.01.2026
Attendees
John Coope, Iona Sutherland, Dr Murray, Daniel Alderson-Smith, Judy Lanaway ,John FitzPatrick, Carla Wansey-Jackson, Diana Elder, Michael Crow.
Apologises- Erica Hirsch, Richard Hurst and Estelle Laybourne
Meeting notes:
Generated by AI. Be sure to check for accuracy.
· Review and Amendments to Previous Meeting Minutes:
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o Attendee and Apology Lists: John FitzPatrick requested that future meeting minutes include a list of attendees and apologies, to which Daniel agreed, explaining that if provided with the information, they can add it to the Word document version of the minutes.
o Correction of Name Spelling: John queried the spelling of Sandra's name, with Iona clarifying the correct spelling as 'SANDA' and the group confirming the correction for the minutes.
o Technical Handling of Minutes: John Coope asked Daniel about the process for updating the Teams minutes, and Daniel explained that they will issue the minutes as a Word document so we can incorporate any corrections or additions sent to them.
· Update on Hospital Referrals and ICB Reorganization:
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o Current Status of Referrals: Iona reported that there are currently no updates or changes to hospital referrals, and the situation remains as previously discussed.
o ICB Reorganization Details: Iona explained that the Integrated Care Board (ICB), formerly the CCG, is being downsized with redundancies and mergers, resulting in fewer staff and potentially less GP input, though the final impact is still uncertain.
o Clarification of ICB: Upon request, Iona clarified that the ICB stands for Integrated Care Board, which is the new structure replacing the old Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
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· Flu and COVID Vaccination Campaign Outcomes:
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o Vaccination Campaign Results: Iona stated that the flu and COVID vaccination campaigns went as well as could be expected, with most of the vaccines administered and the campaign nearly complete.
· Planning for Patient IT Support Open Day: John Coope initiated a discussion about organizing an open day to provide IT support for patients, focusing on the NHS app, with Daniel, John FitzPatrick, and others volunteering to assist and suggestions made for advertising and logistics.
o Purpose and Format of Open Day: John Coope proposed holding an open day in the surgery waiting room to help patients with the NHS app and other IT needs, suggesting late April or early May as possible dates.
o Advertising and Patient Access: Iona recommended advertising the event as a walk-in session via the surgery website, Facebook page, and physical notices in the surgery, rather than using a booking system, to reach those less familiar with digital platforms.
o Volunteer Support and Training: Daniel and John FitzPatrick volunteered to provide IT support, with John offering to bring a demonstration computer, and Iona and Dr. Murray expressing interest in being trained to better assist patients.
o Coordination of Dates and Roles: John Coope agreed to circulate suggested dates by email and coordinate having at least two or three volunteers present during the open day to advise patients.
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· Practice Staffing Updates:
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o Staff Changes: Iona reported that Renuka, the practice pharmacist, is leaving, and Dr. Freemantle, an experienced salaried GP, will be joining the practice and available for meetings from next Thursday.
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· Discussion of Seasonal Illness and Staff Health:
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o Staff and Patient Illness: Iona explained that while some staff members were seriously ill, including hospitalizations, the general patient population managed well, though there was a notable number of very sick patients over the past months.
o Personal Health Practices: Carla shared their personal approach to avoiding illness, including consistent mask-wearing in public spaces, and noted their success in staying healthy.
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· Appointment of Vice Chair and Secretary:
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o Vice Chair Appointment: John FitzPatrick offered to act as vice chair, clarifying they do not wish to progress to chair, and the group accepted this arrangement.
o Secretary Appointment: Daniel agreed to be the named secretary, acknowledging that they are already handling most of the secretarial duties, and the group confirmed this appointment.
o
· Any Other Business and Future Meeting Date:
o Potential Strikes: Michael raised the issue of possible upcoming strikes in the medical sector, with Iona stating that any impact on the practice is expected to be minimal.
o Scheduling Next Meeting: The group discussed suitable dates and agreed to schedule the next meeting for April 22nd, confirming availability among key participants.
· Apology for Missed Meeting Notification: Carla explained their late arrival was due to not receiving the meeting notification, and John Coope apologized for the oversight, promising to resolve the email issue.
Follow-up tasks:
· Meeting Minutes Accuracy: Add a list of attendees and apologies to the meeting minutes and correct the spelling of Sandra's name as "Sanda" in the minutes. (Daniel)
· Open Day IT Support: Send an email with suggested dates for the open day in late April or early May and coordinate at least two or three advisors for IT support in the surgery. (john coope)
· NHS App Training: Arrange for Daniel to train Dr Murray(VINE MEDICAL CENTRE) and possibly other PPG members on using the NHS app prior to the open day. (Daniel)
· Meeting Notification Issue: Resolve the email notification issue between john Coope and Carla to ensure Carla receives future meeting invitations. (john Coope)