February was certainly a very wet month but by the end, the sun had begun to shine and the daffodils had started to poke their heads up in the garden, a sure sign that Spring is well on the way! It was another busy month for us and we were out and about again flying the flag for public engagement.
We mentioned the NHS 10 Year Plan in our last blog and February began with the final few public engagement workshops before all the feedback was submitted to NHS England. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to a workshop (or two!) as the feedback you provided was incredibly helpful and will help to inform future services.
Gill and Jim had their regular meeting with colleagues at Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare. This is such a useful meeting where, as always, the focus starts and finishes with the patient, and we can share our knowledge and feedback.
Jim went with colleagues from Dorset County Hospital and Dorset Healthcare to carers meetings in both Portland and Weymouth in February. He could see the groups were so important for people to meet likeminded people, get information, share experiences and build friendships. He heard about the Carers Passport, which all carers are entitled to have when their loved one has a stay in hospital in Dorset. More information about the carers passport, or contact Jim.
Gill went to the following PPG meetings: Sherborne (Apples PPG), Ferndown (Barcellos PPG), Broadstone (Hadleigh PPG), Wool (Wellbridge PPG), Poole (Shore Medical Champions PPG), online with Blackmore Vale PPG, and finally to Ferndown again with Orchid House PPG. The management team at West Moors Practice are looking to form a face-to-face PPG and Gill met with them to provide ideas and guidance on how to take this forward. Gill also hosted the North Dorset PPG representatives meeting and took part in the Action for Health & Care in Purbeck meeting.
A couple PPGs had reason to celebrate in February – Weymouth and Portland PPGs ran their healthy cooking course for novice cooks, which is growing in reputation. Feedback has been universally positive with people being encouraged to stop buying microwave food and takeaways and cook nutritious food from scratch at home. Puddletown PPG bought a blood pressure monitor for their surgery, which both staff and patients are being encouraged to use. They raised funds through their Rotary club’s raffle ticket sales and their local Lions club donated money for an adjustable chair to be used at the machine too!
Jim managed to catch up with several people this month including Mark, the new Digital Lead for Weymouth & Portland Primary Care Network (PCN). He met with Peter from Prince of Wales PPG and Mollie, the Dementia Service Coordinator for Help & Care who are looking to work together to give more information and support to staff and patients around dementia. He also went to the Mid-Dorset PCN monthly drop-in held at Dorchester library, where people could talk to and get information from many organisations including Carer Support Dorset, Dorset County Hospital, LiveWell Dorset, along with getting their blood pressure checked.
Jim went to several PPG meetings including one at Cerne Abbas and was the first time he’s been to their meeting face-to-face. He was really pleased to see the PPG members in person and the group are planning lots of initiatives to help the practice and fellow patients!
The end of February was slightly bittersweet for our work family as we packed up and moved from our long-time base in Vespasian House to our new home at Colliton Park in Dorchester. As with any move however it was an excellent opportunity for a good declutter!
Outside of work Gill and her husband looked after their grandson for the weekend while their daughter and son in law enjoyed a well-deserved spa break. Their grandson was incredibly helpful scanning the supermarket shopping! Gill also celebrated her birthday with her family; she said that birthdays certainly came around more quickly these days!
Jim and Kelly visited their local repair café for the first time and had a ornament repaired, had a quick sea-swim and saw the comedian John Bishop at Weymouth Pavilion. They also had a power cut that lasted all of one Saturday evening, so only one thing for it, they went to the pub!
As we move into the month of March, we’re as busy as ever with lots of exciting public engagement work already in our diaries. As always, if there is anything we can help or advise with, please do drop us a line!
