Dear Patient,
As you may or may not know, my family has been very actively involved in the care of the community of Blackley since 1932 (1st September 1932 to be precise!); and I firmly believe that one of the reasons why we are still here today is the relationships that have been built with the patients themselves.
Not being a clinician myself, I unfortunately cannot develop the relationships in the same way that my father, grandfather, grandmother and great aunt have before me.
However, I am a Partner here at the practice and would like to ensure that the patients voice is heard in a forum that is appropriate.
So, what is a Patient Participation group?!
It is a group of patients registered with the surgery who have no medical training but have an interest in the services provided
It can be summarised in the following:
- Advising the practice on the patient perspective
- Organising health promotion events
- Communicating with the wider patient body
- Running volunteer services and support groups to meet local needs
- Carrying out research into the views of those who use the practice (and their carers)
- Influencing the practice or the wider NHS to improve commissioning
- Fundraising to improve the services provided by the practice
This is not all that the group "has to do", it can be more, it can be less; however the key is to ensure a dialogue between the practice and the patients.
The are certain things that the group is not though:
- A forum for complaints. By providing a channel for communication a PPG can reduce the risk of complaints. If there is however a common theme in complaints, then they may be able to be addressed in the meeting, but a specific incident will not be discussed.
- A PPG is not a way to implement any pre-determined agenda (the governments or anyone else’s). The independence of the PPG is a major strength. They are informally accountable to all the patients in the practice and should therefore take a balanced view of needs.
Being a member of the PPG means that you are informally accountable to all the patients in the practice and should therefore take a balanced view of needs. It does not however entitle you to preferential treatment at the practice!
When will the group meet?
The group will be meeting every six months, and plenty of notice will be given to the dates of the meetings for those interested in attending.
What you need to do:
Very simple - either email me on info.tnfmc@nhs.net , or alternatively fill in the online form below.
Please also let me know your availability throughout the week - and that include evenings also(!)
If you would like to be involved, let me know and I will come back to everyone who replies with a positive response with some suggested times and dates.
Thanks for your interest and time; and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Mike Neville
Managing Partner
Complete the Patient Group Sign-up Form Online
If you prefer, you can download the sign up form as a pdf document, print it out, complete it and return it to the practice.
Download the pdf version of our sign up form
PPG - Please click the link to view the PPG minutes 19.07.2022
PPG Minutes 13.10.22 - the next PPG meeting will be in April 2023
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.