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Patient Participation Group
The practice has a Patient Participation Group (PPG). This is a group of patients of the surgery, who work with the practice to improve patient experience, services, and identify solutions to problems.
A representative from the practice management team and a GP partner also attend meetings so members get an opportunity to raise matters relating to the practice directly with representatives of the surgery.
The Patient Participation Group meets four times a year. Members are asked to attend meetings or advise when they are unable to do so.
Join the PPG
The Patient Participation Group is open to all patients registered with the practice.
If you are interested in the work of the PPG, or would like to join, please complete our Patient Participation Group Registration form.
Latest PPG Reports and Minutes
To obtain a copy of previous minutes or reports, please contact us
Monday 6th January 2025
Attendees:
Mike Bernard MB (chair), Michael Holbrooke MH (vice chair), Debbie Lambe DL (Practice Operations Manager), Dr Jonathan Knight JK, Sally Gardiner, Jenny Pickering, Michele More MM, Sue Hayes, Anni Meehan, Jane Coates, Philip Barber PB (via Teams), Jan Parry (via Teams), Claire Woodbridge (via Teams), Donna Holmes DH (secretary – minutes)
Apologies:
Anna Soroko
Introductions:
- Group introduced themselves and brief background and interests.
Minutes of last meeting – Monday 28th October 2024
- Minutes agreed by group, as a fair reflection of the last meeting.
Matters arising, not covered by the agenda:
- Agreed it would be of benefit to have a chair from another practice to attend our PPG to talk about their PPG and assist with any advice or questions. Action - DL to organise. DL advised the PPG Chair from Orchard Street will attend the next meeting in April 2025.
- Member's discussed if Dr Knight unable to attend any of the date's that it would also be nice to meet other Partners. DL agreed that this would be an option for different partners to attend.. DL discussed with other partners, all happy to attend as needed, rotate attendance, but JK advised he is happy to continue as the PPG lead.
- Discussed the PPG section on the current Practice Website – MB has already started to look at ideas and will share with the group to be discussed. Action – MB to share ideas with PPG. MB shared ideas with the group and these were sent onto DL, who advised the website has been updated with suggestions – please take a look and provide any feedback.
- New PPG leaflets to be organised – Action - DL to arrange. DL advised these are in production and a draft copy will be sent to you all – leaflets should be available by the next meeting in April.
- Mention of previous PPG Banner – DL explained that they were unable to find this. Action -DL to organise. Banner still not found, DL organising a new banner to be purchased.
- Members of the PPG felt that practice staff are not all aware of what the PPG is. Action - DL to share in the next staff news letter. The PPG were mentioned in the November 2024, staff newsletter.
Who are the PPG?
A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of volunteer patients, carers and GP Practice staff who meet regularly to discuss and support the running of their GP Practice. PPG's look at the services the Practice offers, patient experience, and how improvements can be made for the benefit of the Practice. We currently have approx. 12 members who are a relatively new group. They will help and support and promote patient information such as medication waste. Donna Holmes (TRMC secretary) can give provide further information.
- Winter Clinics/Seasonal Vaccines Discussed what the current process is for the practice to invite patients for vaccinations. Action – DL to get update. DL advised that we would like patients to have vaccines at the surgery rather than pharmacies – looking at different ways of promoting the vaccines and also looking at ad hoc vaccines with clinicians having them available in their rooms, which hopefully will increase surgery uptake.
Membership and Promotion of the PPG (inc. website)
Excellent turn out for this meeting – the current PPG has 12 members – the group feel this is a sufficient number. It was discussed that in future need to look at more diversity when looking for new members, discussed posters/leaflets in different languages.
JK put a thought to the group, about having sub groups, i.e. groups of particular patients e.g. youth/disability – the sub groups could then report back to the main group.
JK said it is difficult to engage with different cultures, youngsters, mental health, but we could look at ways to try and get them to engage.
Group discussed and suggested that members of the group, who may have a particular interest could group together and try and engage with particular groups of patients, e.g. Mental Health, Diabetes.
Discussed engagement with patient's in the waiting room / specific suggestion box.
Action: Members to email areas of interest for sub groups if they wish to support one of the groups to Donna.
Discussion was had regarding the current application form for PPG members and MB feels it would be beneficial to have a PPG contact number on to discuss the group and what it entails – Action: DL to look at the application form and it will be sent out for comments.
Provide a suggestion box for patients to give feedback. MM offered to be involved in processing suggestions.
Practice Report and Update
Please note that online appointments are currently only available for nurse appointments. AccuRx was introduced to improve online booking for GP and ANP appointments, helping to prevent incorrect bookings. The same number of the online appointments has been made available through AccuRx to ensure consistency in availability. Below are the figures for December:
AccuRx bookings 314 – Nurse online bookings 357 –Phone calls answered 9,338.
Booking appointments
DL will provide a report of appointments and how booking is going, identifying online vs telephone.
Discussion was had on ease of using the online appointment system – it was discussed about potentially having how to guides on how to book etc.
PPG Network
MB, MH, DL have attended two PPG Network Meetings. Agreed to share the minutes following these meetings, as well as future dates, if any other members wish to attend these.
The meetings are with other PPG chairs and members in Suffolk and North East Essex and also the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) and there are different subjects discussed. including of late additional services provided by pharmacies.MM completed the 'working with people and communities to improve general practice in primary care' course – said it was very useful and informative.
The next PPG network meeting is Wednesday 23rd January 2025, 10:30am to 12pm – Microsoft Teams. PPG members wishing to attend to contact DH to request the link or arrange attendance via Microsoft Teams at Two Rivers Medical Centre.
Any Other Business
Staff update from DL
Two Advanced Nurse Practitioners have resigned (Nasima Begum & Danielle Boore), so we are advertising for another Advanced Nurse Practitioner and we have just appointed another male Salaried GP.
- PPG Members ID Badges – we would like to ensure all the PPG have their own name badges. We know some of the original PPG members have these, but if you do not have one, please can you let Donna know, so we can get these ordered for you.
- Three member's requested an update on the weight loss jab and availability – JK advised we are all still learning – personal experience so far is that it is helpful whilst on the jab, but when stopped hunger comes back with a vengeance. Feels it is good in the right circumstance. Currently only prescribed by specialist doctors. GPs can prescribe for diabetes. PB shared his own experience and is due to start this week, hoping it will help with health and mobility and he will share his experience with the group next meeting.
• Debbie advised that the practice is working with staff and organising 6 week incentives. T. t The first one being a Practice Quiz. Debbie invited all members of the PPG to attend the Practice's Quiz Night on Thursday 30th January 2025 at 19.00 – if you are planning to attend please can you confirm attendance to Donna, so we are aware of numbers on the night.
Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 8th April 2025 at 5.30pm – Teams Link to be sent with agenda (approximately 2 weeks prior to the meeting).