Our PPG volunteers, plus some from a sister PPG, plus some unaffiliated volunteers have supported Red House PPG with vaccination clinics since they started in December. So far we have supported the surgery for 31 week’s worth of clinics, providing nearly 4,000 hours of support.
As part of Patient Participation Group Awareness Week we are sharing the stories, experiences and insights from our Member PPGs.
The following survey results have been shared by the Weymouth & Portland GP Patient Participation Groups (PPG), whose Chairs wanted to give patients a stronger voice throughout Covid-19. In doing so they could better understand their patients’ circumstances and how best to use GP resources throughout the pandemic.
The Meads Medical Centre serves around 9,000 patients in the rapidly growing town of Uckfield in East Sussex.
The Patients’ Group, which was formed 10 years ago, has always enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the practice. It achieves its key role as a critical friend whilst being positive and supportive.
N.A.P.P.’s role is centred around listening to the concerns of patients, understanding the issues they are facing within primary care and escalating this to ensure the patient voice remains at the heart of local, regional and national decision making. As such, we have developed a short survey to gather feedback from our members and the public to understand the most important policy priorities impacting patients in primary care.
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered profound and rapid changes in general practice. Within weeks of the outbreak in England, the proportion of face-to-face GP consultations shifted from 70% to 23%. Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) play a crucial role in primary care as a key link between patients and general practice. During this period, they too, have experienced a shift in how, when and where they have been able to meet.