Please register for the patient participation group.

The patient participation group (PPG) is made up of volunteer patients who meet with practice staff to discuss the work of the practice.

The aims of the group are defined by its members. They aim to feedback patient views and suggestions for improving, changing and developing patient services to the practice. They also provide comment on practice and Clinical Commissioning Group proposals for service changes and development. Currently the group is focusing on providing improved information to patients who have recently been in hospital or who have long term conditions.

The PPG listen to the feedback from patients. During the last year, we have received many patient ideas on how we can shape and improve aspects of our service.

The group is always looking to involve more patients and they will welcome additional members to work with them. This will be either on an ongoing basis or for one off projects if someone has a particular skill or interest which could be used to help others via the group.

Please note, this is not a forum for specific complaints and any correspondence that the group members feel is not appropriate to their role may be passed to practice staff.

Who We Are

The group is here to support the practice by offering a patient’s view. To do this we need to listen to you, the patients. We are six patients and two managers from Paston. The patients do not get paid. We do it because we are pleased with the service we have from Paston and want to help to make it even better. The people who run the NHS say that they listen and we are here to be your voice if you want. We want your opinions and ideas about what needs to be done.

New members are always welcome. If you would like to help, please contact us. We would like people of all ages, including young people from Paston College or the High School.

Set up in July 2008, the group aims to help the surgery by seeking patients views, by helping in practical ways such as on flu day and by representing patients on planning groups such as the health campus project.

What We Can and Can’t Do

What we can do:

• Listen to you about anything (other than your medical treatment)
• Carry your ideas and views forward
• Tell you about good and bad things that are happening
• Let you know how you could help if you wanted to

Some of the projects the PPG have been involved in are:

• Making car park and boundary improvements
• Waiting room redesign with new children’s area
• The introduction of extended hours appointments
• Fund raising events including regular coffee mornings and seasonal activities
• Involvement in the annual patient survey.

This proves that the PPG continues to benefit our patients and enhance the service we provide.

What we can’t do:

• Listen to complaints about your medical treatment at the surgery

Get Involved

We will ask the members of this representative group some questions from time to time, such as what you think about our opening times or the quality of the care or service you received. We will contact you via email and keep our surveys succinct so it shouldn’t take too much of your time.

We aim to gather around a hundred patients from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly representative sample. We need young people, workers, retirees, people with long term conditions and people from non-British ethnic groups.

If you are happy for us to contact you occasionally by email, please register for the PPG.