Reflections following a public event engaging around the provision of a new build GP surgery building:

As Engagement Manager for a CCG I have run my fair share of poorly attended public meetings, for whatever reason the subject matter just didn’t grab the attention of the public or there was just a lack of interest or maybe an excess of apathy!

Contentious decisions always attract a larger audience – the closing of a department or cessation of a service attracts the usual suspects and anyone with a personal interest. In addition, the wider public are always ready to have an opinion on the perceived privatisation of the NHS or the ‘post code lottery’ loved by the tabloid press.

The construction of a new GP surgery building and the relocation of the existing practice would normally get a lot of interest with concerns ranging from parking and access to the colour of the walls.  Patients at the practice would be anxious about retaining current services and the wider public would be interested in the impact of the local area and other practices.

Pre Covid I would have expected a public meeting to attract a large number of the registered patients plus local councillors and other stakeholders as well as assorted members of the public curious about what new facilities may be offered with a view to swapping surgeries if the grass looks greener.

As part of the engagement programme a number of Zoom meetings had been held with registered patients and stakeholders, which were fairly well attended, attracting 20+ attendees each time.  Following easing of restrictions a public meeting was held with a display of the new facilities, the architect was in attendance together with clinicians and the CCG, to give everyone the opportunity to comment and make suggestions or highlight issues we may not have thought of.

The meeting ran all afternoon and evening, by 5pm only three members of the public had visited along with a couple of interested local councillors.  In the evening a few more members of the public attended but really not the numbers we would have expected.

I like to think this is a mark of the success of our online offering but I suspect it has a lot to do with people, particularly the elderly, not being ready to venture out to public meetings at this point, Covid cases are on the rise again and anxiety is rising along with them.

The question I ask myself is whether we should be doing face-to-face meetings at all.  We have held engagement events and consultations online for 18 months with pretty good results, maybe even better than we might have expected from in person meetings.  The measures we now have to take, open windows and doors during winter, wearing masks, social distancing, all reduce the effectiveness of physical events.

To paraphrase one of my favourite quotes: “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should!”

 

About the author

I have worked as Engagement Manager for the former West Hampshire and now Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG for eight years having previously worked in an acute NHS trust.  In total I have worked for the NHS for nearly 23 years in a range of roles but mostly in the communications team.

I have undertaken a series of Consultation Institute training courses and Wednesday Wisdom sessions and have gained the Institute’s Certificate of Professional Development.

I live in Hampshire with my husband, two cats and one dog and enjoy being grandma to my four grandchildren.

Jane Gordon

Engagement Manager

Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG