How has the practice engaged with the PPG: Regular meetings take place on a quarterly basis and last a minimum of 90 minutes; essentially the meetings are informal. If these have to be cancelled, a written update on issues and surgery news is sent to all members. The meetings are organised and chaired by Practice management who also form the agenda and undertake the administration - providing refreshments included! Meeting notices and minutes are delivered by email and hard copy. A different meeting chair has been identified for future meetings. Clinical staff notably GPs are invited to attend usually for a limited time slot to give their feedback and answer concerns raised by the PPG How has the practice made efforts to engage with seldom heard groups in the practice population? The practice has widely publicised the PPG on its website and via each practice reception area. The patient survey in 2013 which attracted over ninety responses was sent to a sample 2.5% of all practice patients and included a cross section of ages as well as ethnicities. The Practice has only a small number of patients from seldom heard groups. Has the practice received patient and carer feedback from a variety of sources? The patient survey was last undertaken in 2013. Each surgery has a suggestions and comments book accessible to all patients in reception. The Practice manager and assistant practice Manager both have an open door policy with regard to patient communication and feedback and encourage suggestions on improvements to service provision. The practice has a complaints procedure which is monitored and reported upon annually; it is intended to report to the PPG more regularly in the future. The practice has implemented the Friends and Family Test initiative in 2014 and feedback to date is encouraging with all respondents stating they are Highly Likely to recommend the surgery to a member of their Family or a Friend. Was the PPG involved in the agreement of priority areas and the resulting action plan? Yes – the PPG were consulted about the action plan and annual report. How has the service offered to patients and carers improved as a result of the implementation of the action plan? A key theme of many of the action plan’s objectives is increasing the accessibility of patients to services offered by the surgery either via on-line access, texting or by removing the 08451 numbers. These have largely been successful and as a result services to patients will have improved. The lack of complaints regarding access to services helps to confirm this view. Do you have any other comments about the PPG or practice in relation to this area of work? No |