PATIENT INVOLVEMENT GROUP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, 26TH MARCH 2014

Present:  Hazel Purvis, Practice Manager
	    Emma Kitching, HCA
                Neil Brown, Robert Black and Joyce Robinson

Apologies:  Dr Mannikar, Kelly Summerly, June Talbot and Peter Bennett

1.	Minutes of last meeting/Matters arising
None

2.	South Tyneside Patient Forum Update
Peter sent his apologies today.  He has quite a lot of information to update the group with and will hopefully attend the next meeting.

3.	New GP’s
Hazel informed the group that Dr Ash has left the practice.  The group were quite concerned that another GP has left and asked about the future of the practice.  Hazel explained that the contract has been rolled over for another year and Trinity Medical Group still hold the contract.  The practice will be recruiting two new salaried GP’s in the near future.  We also have Dr John McClelland who will be working with the practice long term, taking over Dr Gordon’s sessions.  

4.	Group Priorities
A lot of discussion followed around this and it was agreed that while the practice was unsettled it wasn’t the right time to agree priorities.  It was felt the main priority was to recruit salaried GP’s over the next month or two and keep patients informed of the changes in the practice.  

5.	Members Issues
The groups main concern is the changes in the practice as mentioned above.  This is mainly due to GP’s leaving to take up partnerships elsewhere.  Hazel explained it is the nature of the contract.  When employing salaried GP’s they tend to move on to partnerships to further their career.

6.	Any Other Business
Hazel informed the group that from April 2014 all patients over the age of 75 must be allocated a named GP.  The group felt that this may prove difficult for Riverside due to salaried GP’s and locums working in the practice. A lot of discussion followed around this and patient perception of having a named GP. This process is still being rolled out and Hazel will update the group at the next meeting.