Who we are
The Patient Forum members are (pictured left to right) Lynne Lewis, Roger Brent,
Darrell Clarke and Debra Smallbone.
What we do
The Patient Forum is here to represent the views of the patients on improvements to the surgery by meeting on a quarterly basis with the partners and the business manager. The forum do not deal with complaints or matters relating to specific patients issues.
If you wish to comment on anything or would like to find out more please email us at patientforum@oaktreesurgery.com
Happy Birthday
We are 2 in September- If you were in the surgery on the 8th September it was nice to see you.
Suggestion Box
Thanks to those of you who have made comments via the Box.
A plea from the forum- the watercooler was installed at the request of patients.
Please keep children from playing with it and please put your empty cups in the bin provided.
The results of the patient forum questionnaire are back and are being displayed on the screens in the waiting room a summary can be accessed by clicking here.
The new patient call system is up and running. The screens will let you know when you are being called to a room and will also give an indication of waiting times.
Many thanks for your comments to date – I trust this answers your queries, but please get in touch with us if you any further comments or suggestions to make – we look forward to hearing from you
Keep the ideas coming.
Debbie Smallbone
Report from last meeting.
The following was discussed at the last Patient Forum meeting, as these were some of the comments you made via the Box and to me whilst I have been in the waiting room during the past couple of weeks : -
Screens - Some of you have commented that you have been unhappy with the current viewing material – This was put to the Doctors who emphasized that the material being shown was a health promotional tool for patients, however they accepted that there needed to be a greater variety of lighter material on display. Some adverts could be specifically linked to certain clinics being held at the Surgery, as well advertising community services. In addition, for a fee, you are able to advertise via the screen – for further info, please contact Mr David Blower at the Surgery. In addition, please let us know, via box or email, what you would like to see on the screens.
Several patients who live in Bridgend, expressed that they had difficulties getting to the Surgery and would often have to resort to getting a taxi. The surgery is happy to look into the possibility of offering a mini-bus service for a small fee, which will give door-to-door service. Please look out for details about this in the near future.
Finally, some of you have requested longer evening opening hours. Again, doctors confirmed that appointments were available until 5.30 pm and that the Surgery is open until 6.30pm – doctors stressed that the duty doctor would be on site until that time and would be available to see patients if it was a medical emergency.
Patient Leaflet
A new patient leaflet is currently being produced. A copy is available in A4 by clicking here.
0844 number
Several patients have written to the forum to ask our views on the 0844 number , we put the questions to the surgery. Here is their response;
"The 0844 phone number provides a system that gives patients and the surgery excellent call management which does actually minimise the amount of time spent on telephone or handling calls, it does give patient choice as to whether to hang up or stay on the line. It is a lo-call number and a typical call costs 0.8p per min more than a call to a BT landline. We do not make any profit from the lines and any monies left over after the payment of the lease for the system and calls made must be invested back into the surgery examples being the check in system on front desk, the patient call system, Chip and Pin, mainly improving technology.
The system does also provide improved patient security as all calls are or can be recorded. It has also enabled us to rota staff according to demand on the system through its monitoring. When we analyse the results of the patient survey we will review if necessary call handling, however we are committed to providing a first class service to our patients and we believe the system allows us to do this by giving us the functionality to handle the 1000+ calls we receive every week".
Next Meeting
23rd September 2008
Dear Patient
The surgery recently supported an application by a company called Oaktree Bridgend Ltd to open a pharmacy adjacent to the surgery building. This was turned down. The petition that over 4500 of you signed to support the application was not considered as relevant by the Committee.
We as a forum representing patients of Oak Tree surgery are very disappointed by this decision and feel that our voices as patients should be heard. We are therefore asking as the patient forum that you sign the petition attached which will be submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government, the Local Health Board and Brackla Community Council.
Thank You
Darrell Clarke
On behalf of the Oak Tree Surgery Patient Forum
Online Petition - Click Here
