We have an active patient participation group at our practice.
Introduction
The Fellview Healthcare Patient Participation Group (PPG) meets with representatives of the practice to collaborate on the improvement of patient services within Fellview Healthcare. We normally meet every 6-8 weeks at the Cleator Moor surgery and the meeting typically lasts for one and a half hours. In addition to patient members our meetings are normally attended by one practice GP, the Practice Manager, and specialist personnel as appropriate
Areas of Interest Within the Practice
Since we started in 2014 was have sought to collaborate with the Practice to improve:
- Appointment communications by telephone and with reception
- GP consultations involving use of phone and same day contact
- The availability of medium and long term appointments
- The level of missed appointments
- The arrangements for repeat prescriptions.
- Patient contact through on-line appointment booking, texts, mobile phone messages and emails
- The interfacing arrangements with some pharmacies
- General information eg patient information leaflets issued by the Practice to patients
- Access to patient records
We have also identified Patient Representatives for individual surgeries who are able to take up generic issues raised by patients for discussion in our meetings.
We receive regular updates from the Practice Manager on changes and new initiatives within the practice (and we are able to make comments) on such topics as: repeat dispensing, flu protection, surgery facilities
We have received presentations from personnel working within the practice as well as representatives from external organisations in the NHS at large.
Areas of Interest Outside the Practice
We have played an active role in promoting a patient view in external matters relating to the Practice. This has included:
- Submissions to Nugen regarding the Moorside Development
- An active campaign to introduce the electronic transfer of patient information from the Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital to GP surgeries.
- Responding to the Success Regime’s consultation document.
- Reviewing adequacy of ambulance services with NWAS
- Discussing the concept of Integrated Care Communities
- Commenting on the Modernisation of Cumbria Care and its impact on care homes
We receive feedback from the Copeland Patient Participation Group and the Clinical Commissioning Group as well as external activities involving the practice GPs.
We are also kept informed on matters which have the potential to affect the service provided by the practice, such as staff recruitment and reception facilities.
PPG ground rules
Agreed by Panel January 2014
- PPG meetings are not a forum for individual complaints and single issues
- The PPG advocate open and honest communication and constructive challenge between individuals
- All Patient Panel members will adhere to the Practice Patient Confidentiality Code
- The PPG will be flexible, listen, ask for help and support each other
- The PPG will demonstrate a commitment to delivering results as a group
- Silence indicates agreement – speak up, but always go through the chair
- All views are valid and will be listened to
- Mobile phones should be switched to silent during meetings, except if a panel member has extenuating circumstances where their phone cannot be switched to silent (Chair to be informed prior to opening of meeting)
- Any agenda items should be directed to the Chair / Secretary at least 1 week prior to the scheduled meeting date
- The PPG will start and finish on time and stick to the agenda
- Any heated discussion generated from meetings will stay in the meeting room and each member agrees to come to the next meeting with a fresh approach even if their views differ from other panel members
- At least one GP and Practice Manager will be in attendance at each PPG meeting
PPG terms of reference
The PPG will:
- Help to improve communication between the practice and its patients
- Act as a planning tool – may be consulted on service development and provision
- Support the practice in dealing with general grumbles and complaints
- Provide feedback on patients’ needs, concerns and interests
- Feedback information about the community, which may affect healthcare
- Give patients a voice in the organisation of their care
- Encourage and support health education activities within the practice
- Influence the provision of secondary health care and social care locally
- Gain knowledge and understanding of the work that goes on within the practice and any proposed future changes
- Assist the practice in gaining support within the local community
- If agreed by the PPG assist with any fundraising on behalf of the Practice, i.e to improve facilities or medical equipment
- Agree to meet every 6-8 weeks minimum with an AGM in January of each year
Join our PPG
If you think you would like to become involved in the sort of issues highlighted below you are welcome to join our meetings. So do come along.
Alternatively if there is a specific topic which you would like to discuss we would be pleased to hear about it.
In the first instance please contact us via our e-mail address for more information and meeting dates:
nencicb-cu.fellview.ppg@nhs.net