2025 October Minutes
| Meeting Date: | 12th October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Meeting Location: | Glen Vue Centre, Railway Approach, East Grinstead |
| Chair: | Glynn Roche / Eddie Vermeer |
| Non-committee Members: | Rosie Brunger |
Attendees:
- Eddie Vermeer
- Michael Mancey
- Frankie Sulke
- Norman Webster
- Carole Mowbray
- Phillip Coote
- Glynn Roche
- Julie Cooper
- Paul Saffrey
- Caroline Custard
Apologies:
- Judith Dayus
| Item | Topic | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apologies | Judith Dayus, Alison Pocock |
| 2 | Conflicts of interest regarding agenda items | None expressed |
| 3 | Minutes of the last meeting | Proposed: NW, Seconded: FS, Agreed: Unanimously |
| 4 | PPG Tracker | Discussed the possibility of having 2 logs – one for PPG actions & one for MMS actions. It was felt this would be more manageable. |
Action:
- EV & MM to go through the outstanding items, decide what can be closed and send reminders as necessary.
MMS PPG Annual Report 2024-25 FINAL.pdf 249938
Looking Ahead:
- Collaboration between PPG & MMS has been largely via GR & Lois Brown. Concerns were expressed that GR was leaving and LB would be far less involved going forward. The challenge now is to forge the same relationship with the partners, with the common aim of sustaining improvement & pushing the practice forward.
- Representation on the PPG from the Burgess Hill Surgery patient community is needed. Ideally recruitment can be guided by a skills audit, highlighting areas of need.
- Need to have clear aims for the next year/18 months and an idea of what success in these aims would look like. PPG actions should all aim to improve 3 things: patient privacy, clinical safety, & patient experience. Important that patients are the heart of everything rather than just the CQC/Government requirements.
- Possible consideration of a change of name to something that makes the Committee role more obvious and less of a mouthful.
| 6 | Finance | Balance at bank £1,641.59. Forms acquired to remove GR from Chairperson's role as account signatory & to add new Chairperson once elected. Metro Bank to introduce bank charges of £3 per month for Community Accounts from January 2026. Bid to MSDC for £1,000 funding towards iPads for Digital Inclusion sessions completed and sent. |
| 7 | Appointment of new officers | The following members of the Committee were nominated unopposed:
- Chairperson: Eddie Vermeer
- Vice-Chair: Michael Mancey (Agreed unanimously)
Note: The roles of Secretary & Treasurer to be deferred to the December meeting.\nThe Chairperson (Edward Vermeer) to be added to the Mid Sussex Modality PPG bank account as an authorised signatory with full online access & the ability to hold a debit card.\nThanks were expressed to GR for his hard work & dedication in the role of Chairperson during a very difficult time. Also to JC for her roles as Secretary & Treasurer. |
| 8 | Patient Engagement | Complaints regarding the arrangements for the flu clinics were highlighted & the Committee would be happy to be asked to attend & help with such events in future. |
Action:
- MMS to feel they can call on the PPG to help with such patient facing events where appropriate.
Digital Inclusion:\nDr Osoba has approached CC to be involved with the focus on reaching out to the digitally excluded. CM has leafletted Turners Hill Park & arranged for a room to be available for four weeks. Dates need to be finalised, liaising with Sara Smart from Age UK. This will then enable volunteers to be contacted. The Rapid Health segment will need the 'Minnie Mouse' programme that was used to train the reception staff.
Action:
- GR to check that this is still available for use.
| 9 | Communications and newsletter | Despite PPG efforts, few patients seem aware of the PPG or what it does so a priority would be to make it better known. Four newsletters have been produced but circulation is small. Not confident that patients read the MMS updates which includes information from the PPG. To reach a majority, discussion should be held with the partners regarding information being sent by the Practice on behalf of the PPG using the Practice/Patient database. This is done in other Mid Sussex PPGs. However, this would still not reach those who do not use technology. There should be a strong message to communicate & a clear understanding of who the target audience is e.g. digitally excluded, young mothers, those with low level mental health concerns. |
| 10 | AOB | PC suggested seeking funding for the digital inclusion programme from Worth Council &/or Turner Hill Parish Council. Warning: this cannot be for iPads as funding for those has been requested via MSDC.\nEast Grinstead library have a digital volunteers programme and they may be willing to assist.\nWellbeing event at Chequer Mead 21.10.25. CC, MM, CM & JC to attend.\nNoticeboards: monitor needed to keep them up to date & relevant. CC volunteered.\nProposed 2026 meeting dates (based on 2025 dates):
- 10th February
- 14th April
- 9th June
- 11th August
- 13th October
- 8th December |
Action:
- MM to liaise with PC regarding a bid.
- CC to investigate.
| Meeting ended: | 2115 |
|---|---|
| Next meeting: | 09/12/25 (Zoom) |