We hoped a face-to-face meeting might attract a few more people than last year’s Zoom AGM, but assumed they would fit into our usual room at Shepperton Medical Practice (SMP). Let’s face it, AGMs are not the most popular or exciting of events!
But the surgery sent out a text, and enquiries started arriving. We realised we would need a big-ger room, a MUCH bigger room as we had over a hundred enquiries! We ended up at the Vil-lage Hall, and would have been stuck without Shepperton Residents’ Association’s PA system – many thanks to them. At least half the enquirers actually arrived, and there would have been more if some hadn’t tested positive on the day!
The PPG doesn’t have funds to hire halls – but generous donations on the day and Cllr Maureen Attewell’s offer of assistance saved us.
Caroline Self, practice manager, and the PPG steering committee gave reports. Elections took place, including Christine Pond as new vice chair and five new committee members. Minutes are available on request. A forest of hands greeted the suggestion of similar events in future.
Good news – the new care coordinator at SMP is working with the PPG’s Andy Anderson to develop and improve cancer care pathways. Following this news at the AGM, a volunteer came forward to undertake similar work with diabetes patients. Vaccination hubs are being scaled down and this means fewer practice staff will be needed to man them.
Continuing concerns – booking appointments is still the biggest issue, but people have benefit-ted from Caroline’s guidance leaflets which have been circulated by Christine. Some decisions are taken above the local level, limiting the surgery’s ability to respond to our requests for change.
This year we hope particularly to see:
• volunteers working with SMP on care pathways for asthma patients and supporting pa-tients with other conditions;
• our website launched;
• greater involvement of SMP staff, particularly doctors, in the PPG;
• more contact with young people and others not represented on the committee;
• easier access to services.
Your suggestions are always welcome.
Neal Adolphus, Shepperton PPG chair neal.adolphus@yahoo.co.uk