Patient Participation Group

 

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) meets to provide a forum for discussion about the practice.

About the Patient Group

The purpose of a Patient Participation Group is to ensure that patients are involved in decisions about the range and quality of services provided by their practice.  These groups can be crucial in providing us with patient feedback on the access to the surgery and systems such as appointment booking but also helping us to make the experience attending the surgery a positive one for all.

We are looking for a broader range of patients to join in order to give a good balance to the group.

What does the PPG do?

The NHS are supportive of PPGs and is keen to see more patients engage with their local practice and on wider health issues.  It recognises that this involves two different but complementary PPG roles:  1. helping their GP practice to improve services for patients and 2. contributing to the NHS's clinical commissioning plans.

1. The PPG helps the Practice communicate and build prositive relationshsips with it patients population.  The core objective of the PPG is to support the Practice to achieve its health promotion aims by liaising between patients and the Practice.  It is a forum for considering the wider issues of running the practice, and for introducing new ideas and initiative.  Patients' views are sought through regular patient surveys, which are analysed to formulate an action plan, which is implemented by the Practice.

2. The PPG is invited to comment on the NHS's plans for care provision in all area as they come under review, such as emergency provision, frailty management, diabetes treatment, etc.  Your experience of NHS treatment is a valued input to planning furure provision.  Yalding surgery is supportive of the NHS's patient-driven model, and welcomes patients getting involved.
The PPG does not deal with individual issues beween doctor and patient.

Interested in joining?

If you are interested in joining our Patient Reference Group, please complete our secure online form below and an Officer of the Group will get back to you as soon as possible.

Join the Patient Group

The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.

Latest PPG Minutes

15th January 2025

Present

  • Sahifa Khatun
  • Kate Snell
  • Mark Mapstone
  • Joy Godsell
  • Minara Khatun.

Minutes

  • Kate Snell

Next PPG Meeting: 15. 01.25

Previous Minutes

  • Discussion re PPG leaflets 

*Ongoing project!

Best PPG Practice Guide

  • Conversation regarding PPG guidelines, including ground rules, main objectives and agreements.
  • Agreed guidelines discussed and agreed – copy to be attached with minutes on practice website. 

NHS App Updates

  • Discussion regarding challenges with charges for texts (Accurx) & options of how these charges can be reduced.Promotion of NHS App
  • 15,000 patients – half of which have the NHS App.  Similar numbers have registered email addresses.
  • Practice agreement that correspondence will be sent via email address, opposed to text message.  

*? NHS App Promotion Event 

  • PLT’s (Protected Learning Time)
  • Update regarding PLT’s. 
  • Common amongst practices to promote staff training.  Blithehale previously opted out – we are now taking part.
  • All practices in Tower Hamlets will take part in PLT’s – they will be held once a month, alternatively on Tuesdays or Thursday - PM’s. 

Other Business

JG

  • Reminder re chairs in waiting room.  Previously noted that they are facing in the opposite direction of TV screens.

*Chairs have been moved to correct this issue in the past – but seem to be routinely moved back.   ? cleaners

JG

  • “The Zacchaeus Project”
  • Social program based in Tower Hamlets, working with older people and carers, offering advice, support and activities to improve the quality of their lives and address gaps in local provision.
  • Multiple regular activities available - keen to promote;
  • In additional to “OPRG” (Older persons Reference Group) via Age UK.  
  • The OPRGs exist to empower older people by providing a platform for their voices to be heard, enabling them to shape the services they rely on, and offering them the opportunity to influence decision-makers.  

JG

  • Discussion regarding assisted dying.  Death Café’s previously discussed in PPG.  
  • Agreed that assisted dying controversial subject - however, promotion of Advanced Will potentially beneficial – not commonly known about, especially by younger population. 

*KS to discuss with JG in further detail in due course ? possible future event

MM

  • Access issues
  • Discussion regarding on going access issues for F2F appointments
  • Agreed by other PPG members – members report not being able to get appointments and that lots of people feel the same way.
  • Main concerns?  - continuity of GP’s

*For further discussion in due course

With no other business, the meeting is closed.

Next PPG – 15th January 2025