Len Valley Practice Patients' Forum

2013 Patient Report and Survey results click here.

Click HERE to access the "Len Valley Practice Patients' Forum" Facebook page

This is a formally organised group of patients who meet at regular intervals to discuss matters of interest to all patients using the Len Valley Practice.

The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for the views of patients to be fed back to the Practice and for the Practice to inform and consult representatives of the patients on matters of mutual interest.

The meetings are attended by the Practice Manager, the Practice Dispensary Manager and whenever possible one of the doctors or the Nurse Practitioner. The meetings are informal but are minuted by a volunteer secretary and chaired by an elected member of the forum.

Patients are invited to forward any questions or suggestions to the forum either by filling in one of the forms in the waiting room or by writing to the chairman, Jim Simes, c/o the Medical Centre.

Complaints should be addressed directly to the Practice Manager.

FISH SCHEME - Harrietsham Helping Hands

This Scheme, which covers the Harrietsham area, has been in existence for well over forty years.  Among the services that we offer is assistance for those residents who require help in getting to the surgeries, collection and delivery of medication, and other essential tasks.  Do please contact me if you have a need with which we may assist or indeed if you would like to join our band of helpers.  Marjorie Darby  (01622) 850 657

LIFT Scheme (Lenham Is For Transport)

LIFT is the scheme where a volunteer driver can take a less able villager to the surgery and back, and/or collect prescriptions for them. All we ask is a small donation towards the cost of fuel.

Also we can now offer a hospital visit service where the driver will wait UP TO one hour and bring you home. There will be a cash donation of £13-50 for Maidstone Hospital required to be paid in cash on return. No voucher or cheques are acceptible.

If you would like to volunteer Please ring!

CONTACTS:

To enquire about the service or to volunteer, please get in touch with either    

Bob Breens (01622) 858 159 (ALL SERVICES)

FRANK BRADSHAW (07883) 448 276 (ALL SERVICES)

Alf Smith (01622) 859 802 (SURGERY VISITS ONLY)

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services

For Leaflet click HERE

________________*** PATIENT FORUM MEETING MINUTES ***_____________

Meeting Date: January 22^nd 2013

In attendance; Sue Southon  (Chair) Jim Simes,Mairin Holland, Diane Anderson (Practice Manager), Jan Smith, Frankie Simmonds (Minutes), Alison Young, (vice Chair),  Gio Clements, Sandra Crouch, Sadie Curtis,Dr Reed

Apologies; Ann Putland , Nigel Dougan, Frankie Simmonds, Michelle Saunders, Elaine Moles

1. Minutes of last meeting and special meeting

All minutes and the contents were agreed.

2. Dispensary

• What do we do with the results of the survey to be added as an agenda item for the next meeting. The next step to be review and report back to practice manager re potential changes if required.

3. Healthy Lifestyle

• Jan has some contacts who wish to volunteer and attend the next Project meeting
• Deadline for Art project is 27^th
• Judge to be appointed. Poss to approach Mr Clarke, Sadie agrees to try.
• No assembly presentations required, just details of competition in writing to schools
• Open doors 9.30 for set up. Poss a bit earlier
• Friday evening at 7pm set up and arrangement of rooms with Sadie /Jan/Ali/Jim/Sue
• Borrow long tables from Vicar
• Early on Saturday assistance required from 8.30.
• Stands to be self sufficient in set up, running and take down
• Volunteer to be in attendance at each talk to ensure swift exit as each talk are running tight
• Identification, poss name tags, tabards, printed tshirts to be discussed at the project meeting
• Refreshments ? Jan had another volunteer who would like to attend the next project meeting and assist
• Raffle. Jim donated raffle books. £1 ticket, to be agreed at Project meeting

4. PPG

• Representation required at the large PPG meeting
• Someone to attend on Feb 5^th 7-9pm as Sue cannot attend this time
• Cluster info distributed
• Sue will complete the attached form detailing the progress and function of our Forum and share. This includes the sharing of resources etc

5. AGM

• All members agreed  that an AGM is good practice. Next AGM Sept 24^th 6pm
• Invite all practice members if poss also
• AGM is for membership/recruitment/resignation etc
• Noted that as well as inviting practice members to the AGM Forum members may wish to “shadow” practice team members

6. Volunteer Drivers

• Lift drivers agreed to hand out Health event posters/info
• Happy to collect prescriptions for patents. Diane agreed to create laminated ID style cards. Sue to provide electronic photos for ID

AOB

• No room on online prescriptions to store than more than two persons. Under development.
• Blood pressure self check room could do with a larger ENAGAGED sign to avoid interruptions

Date of Next Meetings

March 5th 2013 at 6pm

Project group date Jan 30^th Jan 2013 at 2.30pm