Why general practitioners are invaluable to the NHS
Letter to the Times by our Patron, Sir Denis Pereira Gray “Why general practitioners are invaluable to the NHS”
Published 25/11/21
Letter to the Times by our Patron, Sir Denis Pereira Gray “Why general practitioners are invaluable to the NHS”
Published 25/11/21
The National Association for Patient Participation (CIO) is holding the first Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed by a seminar on the subject of ‘Access’.
Date: Saturday 6th November
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Teleconference (via Zoom)
Seminar keynote speakers: Dr Farah Jameel (BMA), Gemma Jackson (Chair, Thornton Practice PPG), Closing remarks: Sir Denis Pereira Gray (Patron N.A.P.P.)
The National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P.), the national voice for patient participation in Primary Care, is looking to recruit a new Chairperson. The outgoing Chairperson, Dr Folarin Majekodunmi is stepping down after serving a 3-year term
The National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P.), the national voice for patient participation in Primary Care, is looking to recruit a number of new trustees, including a Board Secretary, to the Board.
On 8 July NHS England announced the results of the 2021 GP Patient Survey, which provides insights on patients’ experience of primary care services, including access to these services.
The past year certainly gave us all challenges; the first one was learning to use Zoom to keep in touch, have committee meetings, etc! Along with all other leaflets and items in our Practice’s Reception area, the PPG table had to be cleared, but we were given a new, glass fronted display board, and allowed access to keep news coming for those patients visiting the Practice – mostly information on the many on-line activities springing up, such as talks, health advice, and help with IT access.
Determined to set up a Patient Participation Group, we decided we needed support. As such, we applied for membership of NAPP and paid the joining fee ourselves. This was money very well spent. A small but committed working group of patients are now better informed by NAPP’s very helpful guidance. We are again fired with enthusiasm and have succeeded in setting up a meeting with an enlightened partner of the practice and the practice manager.
When we first locked down, we asked our practice manager how we could help. Through our Facebook page we kept our patients informed on the new booking systems in place. We also used the Facebook page to keep people updated with the latest evidence related Covid information as well as any information the practice needed to promote as things changed and the pandemic wore on.
Our Practice
Our practice operates from two sites serving a total of around 13,000 patients. We are lucky that as a teaching practice, it has had the opportunity to recruit some of the best clinicians and support staff and generally receives very positive reviews from patients for the services provided.
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.