Patient Participation Group

Join our patient participation group

Our main aim is to promote the wellbeing of our patients and provide high-quality care and service at all times. To do this, it is essential that we listen to you and do all we can to meet your needs.

That is why we created our patient participation group in October 2013, which is open to everyone registered with us. It is your opportunity to influence and achieve real change through working with others to ensure what we provide is what you want and need.

The group:

• Meets every two or three months with two members of our staff (usually a doctor and the practice manager)
• Ensures real, open communication between patients and the practice
• Discusses patients’ needs during the development of practice systems
• Supports the practice to achieve its health promotion targets
• Reviews and, where appropriate, provides advice and recommendations on the practice patient surveys
• Ensures the needs and interests of all patient groups are considered, including those with specific conditions, those with a disability, ethnic minorities and migrant workers

Join and become a member of our PPG

Becoming involved delivers practical improvements

Patient participation groups, working with GP practice staff and patients, help to improve the patient experience for all. Examples of some of the improvements made by GP practices in partnership with their PPGs include:

• Improvements to patient waiting areas
• Provision of up-to-date information on display and notice boards
• Better communication between reception staff and patients
• Improved access through the installation of a new telephone system
• Longer opening hours
• Online appointment booking
• Online prescription ordering service
• Appointment reminders to reduce the number of non-attendances
• Improved access and facilities for patients with a disability
• Improved patient privacy at reception

These are just some examples of the work of practices and PPGs from across our member practices. To find out more, ask at the surgery for further details.