The Patient Participation Group (P.P.G)

This Practice has its own PPG, and we are part of the National Association of Patient Participation Groups (NAPP) (http://www.napp.org.uk/). The scheme has been up and running nationally since 1978, and the number of local groups has grown rapidly in recent years.

Our group, approved by the Partners, started in 2006. With our purpose-built meeting room at the Victoria Medical Centre, we have our own Terms of Reference and Committee (see below), and members of the Practice and staff are usually represented at meetings, which are generally held every other month, sometimes at lunch time and occasionally early evening.

Our aim is to see the practice evolve, educate our members in health care, provide the Partners with feedback and help keep everyone up-to-date in a fast changing medical world. The Group provides an opportunity to meet fellow patients and members of the Committee. In addition, we give practical help in the reception on such occasions as the special ‘flu’ clinics and open days; in fact whenever there is a need for extra bodies at special medical events.

Each meeting has a special theme with expert speakers on their own medical specialities. We have held some very successful meetings over the past year including:

  • presentations by specialists on support for carers;
  • a talk by Dr Thakore on the care and treatment for diabetes carried out at the VMC;
  • a presentation by the Chair of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) on its work in our area and the important part it plays in our lives;
  • a visit from the Chief Executive of NAPP to discuss the work and activities in other PPG groups nationwide;
  • a coffee morning for mothers and babies so that they could see what we do;
  • a presentation of the Polyclinic in Vincent Square;
  • a visit from St John’s Ambulance on how to deal with the many health problems that can occur during the Christmas period such as heart attacks, choking and strokes;
  • a physiotherapist on how to avoid back problems;
  • presentations of an alternative medicine survey being carried out at the practice, and by a medical charity for a fund to deal with the costs involved;
  • a talk by Mr. Mike Stafford, Senior consultant at C & W Hospital, on incontinence;
  • a talk by Dr Alexander Brand, Senior Consultant at C & W Hospital, on rheumatology;
  • meetings on other medical/health education topics of interest to patients.

The Group has a well established newsletter (see below), which it distributes by email to all patients who have supplied an email address. Hard copies are available in the Practice Reception area. The newsletters provide the latest information about the Practice, the NHS generally and medical facilities available in the area.

All patients are welcome to participate in the Group’s activities and are kept informed about meetings if they supply an e-mail address to vmcppg@yahoo.co.uk. E-mail addresses are not passed on to other organisations.

The date of the next meeting is always on the PPG notice board in the large, main, waiting room.

The PPG wants our GP Practice to be community-based and wants patients to feel involved and part of that community.

The Chair of the Committee can be contacted at gillianguy@btinternet.com.

Patient Participation Group Materials