Patient Participation Group

York Street has a vibrant Patient Group. This has built over the past two years after Covid had left it dormant. A great mix of people, they meet every 2 months on average.

On a recent visit to the Practice, MP Daniel Zeichner met the Group and commented on the wealth of experience and constructive views that would benefit York Street. Senior Partner Dr Julian Cooper agreed with this and stated, “We are most fortunate to have such good people. The Partners read the notes of each meeting and items raised are relevant, with good intention for our patient list. One of the Partners attend each meting to welcome the Team and take any questions arising.”

The group began to form in 2023 and first meeting was in November 2023. During the Covid Pandemic, the existing group disbanded and ceased. The General Medical Services Contract states it is a requirement for a Practice to have a Patient Participation Group (PPG). There has been a consistent 7 members, currently 10, since forming.

What is a Patient Participation Group (or PPG)?

A PPG is a group of people who are patients of the Practice and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors and staff. The NHS requires every practice to have a PPG; it is part of the General Medical Services contract.

The following achievements with respect to the ability of practice to carry out their obligations with respect to having a PPG are complete to date:

• A Terms of Reference
• Leaflet – What is PPG at York Street
• PPG Induction plan for new members
• Meeting outline
• Confidentially Agreement
• Consent document for information circulation
• Formation of an independent group of patients that are comfortable to raise enquires on the service, act as an advocate & be a critical friend to the Practice.
• Partners re-assurance that a competent group are in place raising pertinent enquires, ideas and support for everyone at the Practice; also making the establishment compliant with the Contract.
• Shared understanding in the group of the Quality of Outcomes Framework – long-term conditions performance list of problems the Practice works to complete.
• Input into the implementation of the new Phone System implemented late 2023. Including messaging & Tech enquiries on tracing problems with patients calling in and answering not straight forward.
• Member presented CQC Inspection criteria.

Completed Initiatives with respect to the performance of the practice:

• Valuable feedback in setting up new Pharmacy Lease with Hexagon to run the Pharmacy next door.
• Publishing Doctors days of work pattern for patient information on the Website & in the Waiting Room.
• Audit of demographics of Patient List.
• Valuable input on Practice adaption to absorb the new GMS Contract.

Ongoing initiatives:

• Awaiting fitting of PPG Notice Board to market the group.
• Members proactively looking to increase the numbers and widen the representation of the group.
• Physical change to Website front page – signposting “Online Services” better and easy identifiable to patients.
• Scrutiny on the coordination of medical treatment between Primary & Secondary Care. Creating better awareness of this for the Group, with difficulties for patients in continuation of care in transit from both areas.
• Engagement with the Dir IT Addenbrookes & MP D Zeichner relating to the Hospital patient device “MyChart”. This has led to publicised information & advice for the patients on the Website & Facebook in relation to test results. This has reduced enquiries and angst for patients at the front desk and on the phone. (Ongoing)