We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience.
By using this site, you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device. Cookie policy.
Cookie settings.
Functional Cookies
Functional Cookies are enabled by default at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings and ensure site works and delivers best experience.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Latest Patient Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday 9th of July 2025 (Face to Face Meeting) 1pm to 2pm
Full meeting minutes are available upon request, this is a summary of the discussions.
Update on Services
The COVID-19 & flu autumn vaccination plans continue. The surgery is waiting for a confirmed start date which is thought to be in early October. This year plans include holding a Friday afternoon clinic for those aged under 65 years of age and one large Saturday clinic for those aged over 65. The exact configuration continues to be discussed. It is worth noting that those aged 75 years and over will be eligible for both the Covid-19 vaccine and flu vaccination this season. However, those aged 65 and over but younger than 75, will be entitled to the flu vaccination only.
Transport
The local Transport and Placemaking Group are now circulating their discussion paper with its suggestions as to how best to respond to the expanding housing developments in South Gloucestershire and the impact of traffic growth along the A4018.
The proposed charges to the car park outside the surgery will progress to the next and final stage, a traffic regulation order (TRO), bust as yet this has not been issued by Bristol City Council. Once it has been there will be a further period of 3 weeks for public consultation.
There is an e-mail group you can join to be notified when the consultation period opens. This is run by WoTSoc and details are on their website.
WoTSoc are actively seeking information to the fencing that has been placed on the car park at Carlton Court. This is privately owned, and the owner has reduced the car parking available to 18 spaces (aligned with a previously withdrawn planning application). There is nothing to stop the owner erecting the fence, which seems to be there for an extended period, but it is over the permitted height of two metres. WoTSoc are using enforcement of this restriction by Bristol City Council.
A local business representative said that the erection of the fence had had a major impact on the footfall of local shops and services such as his. A separate meeting will be held to discuss and collate information with a view to creating an effective business group or communication method for local businesses, then to use as evidence in the case of a future planning application.
Working Groups
The Digital Inclusion Working Group has produced a report on Digital Inclusion. It was acknowledged that Westbury-On-Trym Primary Care Centre cannot amend the software provided by outside software providers. Notable frustrations continue to be Accurx options and repeat description visibility on the NHS App.
At this time, items on repeat dispensing (a batch of repeat prescriptions that sits with the pharmacy) are not visible on the NHS App. There are efforts being made to move patients to either repeat dispensing or repeat medications rather than a combination of both. This process will take time and is yet to be formally confirmed and continues to be discussed.
Considering the NHS 10 Year Plan, it was acknowledged that the NHS App is the App of choice and it is hoped that focused investment will lead to its development and subsequent improvement.
It was highlighted that the surgery website information is contradictory in places; stating you can make an appointment using Accurx and then elsewhere sating it is not for making appointments. This will be reviewed.
The Patient Board want to focus on the provision of support to individuals using the digital technology and safeguard equality in service access in a digital world where some perhaps do not have the means or drive to join. However, it is challenging to talk about inclusion where the software provision lacks development.
There was also discussion around the use of the term ‘urgent’ and it is hoped that the access document, currently in development as part of the Patient Access Groups efforts, will support the correct meaning of the word.
The Patient Access Working Group would like feedback from the Patient Board as to what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s missing and where there might be further problems and opportunities. It was noted that the draft patient access table has a few errors relating to the titles. Further, this document is only intended to cover the contacts that the surgery most commonly receive. Therefore, it will not cover every patient access query but is intended to cover the most frequent ones.
Initial feedback included keeping the information to one side of A4. It was also noted that we would like to have a final document available on our website and in paper form in time for the autumn vaccination clinics.
Patient Confidentiality at the Front Desk and waiting room set-up
Following feedback from the last meeting the Practice Manager and Patient Service Manager conducted a risk assessment focusing on patient confidentiality. As a result of this, a second-floor sign has been ordered and received. This will be placed further back and state ‘for the privacy of the patient ahead of you, please wait here’. The waiting room floor is awaiting a deep clean and then the sticker will be positioned.
In addition, the Care Navigators have completed some refresher training with regards to confidentiality. This includes asking ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions where a person’s details need to be confirmed and confirming with minimum detail.
Due to a lack of funding, the screens in the waiting room cannot be repositioned at this time, but this would be kept in mind for any future replacements, alongside any other possible IT solutions.
Surgery Phone Message & website feedback
The Patient Board will continue to provide feedback and whilst there was no feedback during this meeting the board can report as and when they have suggested improvement/constructive feedback.
Patient Newsletter
It was suggested that a ‘Day in the life of a Care Navigator’ would be a useful addition to support with patients understanding of their role (transitioning form a receptionist).
Patient Charter announced by NHSE
This will be a requirement and will outline what is expected from the surgery and patients and how patients can contact the surgery if the standards set are not met. It was also highlighted that people should be able to register with us without the need to share their immigration status or proof od permanent address.
Westbury-On-Trym Primary Care Centre already have a Practice Charter which will be amended to reflect any changes required by NHSE. Similarly, the registration changes came into effect after Covid-19 and are something that has already taken place at the surgery.
The Patient Board will next meet on 8th of October 2025.