WCA NEWSLETTER No 167 February 2019

Doctor’s Surgeries - Patient Involvement Group “PIG” – Update
We wrote last year and it’s time for an update.
Our full name is the Sedlescombe and Westfield - Patient Involvement Group – “PIG” for short.
We are a growing group of patient volunteers. We help the Surgeries to continue to get even better
at looking after the health of our communities by giving a patient perspective on service.
Feedback from our recent survey showed that an extremely large percentage of the patients who
responded, (a much higher percentage than similar surveys received), are very pleased with the
service. Many people also recognised that it is getting harder for the GPs and staff to achieve this
quality in these difficult times. (The full results of the survey are on our Surgery webpage, PIG
section, where you can also find notes of meetings, our statement of purpose and our PIG leaflet).
https://www.sedlescombeandwestfieldsurgeries.co.uk/pages/Patient-Involvement-Group---PIG
During the last year we identified a number of areas for development and are now working
together to build more relationships within our community and local organisations to get the best
possible picture of how services are developing.
Recent activities: The surgeries have recently begun to offer an even wider range of appointment
times, including at weekends and later in the evening.
We have helped identify some issues with buildings and access, provided information about
changes to Flu vaccinations, updated materials in waiting rooms and reviewed and updated
information on display screens. We supported patients with the new electronic “log in system”
which nearly everyone is confident to use now. This is saving a lot of time for Reception staff
who can now spend more time with patients who need to talk.
We look at changes that are being introduced in Health Services, nationally, regionally and
locally, talk about how they may affect us and discuss how we can support the staff to implement
and communicate these. We also meet with the area funding organisation (CCG), the hospital
Trust (ESHT), Rother Voluntary Action, Locality Link Workers and other professionals so we
know what is going on and can ask questions to ensure we get the best from them.
We regularly meet together with Doctors and staff and are also well connected to all the other
surgeries across our area.
New: Community Connectors are available for adults (16+), 2-3 hours a week at alternate
Surgeries. They provide active support for people with anxiety, depression and low mood if they
do not receive support elsewhere. They can also provide support on social and financial issues.
GPs refer patients to the Community Connectors and Patients may also be able to self-refer.
Connectors use coaching and behaviour change techniques to support people to improve their
health, confidence, independence and control.
New: Health Education Event – Organised by the PIG. Please see the advert elsewhere in this
newsletter and look out for more details locally. Admission is free and this presentation could
change your life! “ Avoiding Frailty in Older Age” - 17 April, starts at 6.30pm - Sedlescombe
Village Hall.
Get involved - Feedback from you is encouraged - The more information we get from our
fellow patients the more we can do. We have direct access to key Health organisations and can
readily pass on questions or issues. (We do not deal with complaints however, not that there are
many).
We have two groups, one meeting regularly every 6 weeks and a growing “virtual group” where
we keep in touch by email. Members of this group get information about what we are doing and
they can respond, raise questions and suggest agenda items. The opportunity to be more
practically involved, is also available.
If you are interested in finding out more pick up a leaflet in the surgery or leave a message for the
Surgery manager – Keith Newman, who will pass it on to us.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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