Patient Participation Group 

A statement follows from the Chairman, Argyle Medical Group PPG

Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are an important and established means of helping general practices to be responsive to the needs of their community and to continuously improve the delivery of health services locally.

The present Patient Participant Group Committee at AMG, evolved from an existing surgery access liaison committee. This consisted of nominated representatives from local councils and county council, but has now extended to non-council patient representatives.

The committee is supported by the Surgery and at every meeting one of the senior partners is in attendance along with the Practice Manager and representatives from the Health Board and the Community Health Council (CHC).

One of the key features of a PPG is the patient experience and looking to see how that experience can be improved.

However the PPG is not a forum for making complaints but in many circumstances PPGs often lead to a reduction in the number of complaints overall.

For little over 18 months the PPG committee have been settling in to their new role but are now looking to move into a new phase where the committee is looking to engage with patients with a view to them becoming involved and for them to have their say.

So how can a PPG help the patient experience? We are currently looking at and reviewing the following areas :

1. Improving the appointment system. This is an on-going problem in most GP surgeries, but the surgery has been very proactive in attempting to improve the situation.

2. Failure to turn up for appointments is another area of concern and the surgery, in conjunction with the PPG are working very hard to reduce the number of “no shows”.

3. Use of better technology – the PPG have a page on the surgery website and are also looking if social media, Facebook and Twitter can improve the patient experience.

Members of the PPG regularly attend PPG seminars meeting other committee members from other PPGs within the Hywel Dda Board area. These meetings are very useful in that it gives opportunities to meet and discuss similar challenges.

Patient Participation Groups come under the umbrella of the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP).

The Association are keen to support the work of existing PPGs and actively encourage more practices to set up groups. Argyle Practice PPG is determined that it will succeed and are continually looking at new ideas in order to make that happen.

 Terms of Reference 

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

12th June 2017

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 30th January 2017

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 17th August 2016

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 29th June 2016

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 4th May 2016

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 16th March 2016

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 10th January 2016

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 9th December 2015

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 9th November 2015

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 9th September 2015

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here 

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 1st July 2015

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here 

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 3rd March 2015

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 28th January 2015

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 3rd December 2014

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on 10th September 2014

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on July 16th 2014

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on June 4th 2014

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on March 12th 2014

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on September 4th 2013

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Meeting at Argyle Street Surgery

Held on June 4th 2013

Copies of the minutes from this meeting can be accessed by clicking here

Macmillan Coffee Morning

On the 25^th & 26^th September 2015, members of staff from the surgery organised a Cake Sale to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research. Helped by the PPG who manned the cake stall throughout the morning, they raised a massive £1065!

 Members of the PPG and staff from the surgert present a cheque for £1065 to Macmillan Cancer Research.

PPG members man the cake stall at Argyle Street.

Choose Well Week

 Caption: Pictured at the launch of the campaign (from left to right) are Chris Jones, Chris Taylor and Eric Mathias of the PPG, Juliet Goldsworthy, Practice Manager; Cllr Dennis Evans, Chair of Argyle Medical Group Patient Participation Group; Bernardine Rees, OBE, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB; Mary Rose Blackburn of the PPG; Ray Hine, Community Health Council; and Dr R Bury, Senior GP Partner.

Choose Well awareness campaign launched

Argyle Medical Group is inviting their patients to find out more the different healthcare services in their local area.

The Argyle Medical Group Patient Participation Group and Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) are working together to highlight the Choose Well campaign, which aims to inform the public about the full range of healthcare services available locally.

Patients across the practice sites in Pembroke Dock, Pembroke and Neyland have been asked to complete a short questionnaire as part of a community healthcare services awareness campaign in surgery waiting rooms.

The results of the questionnaire will be used by both the Practice and Hywel Dda UHB to help develop further information advising people to ‘Choose Well’.

The Choose Well colour coded thermometer logo allows people to link their symptoms with a NHS service, helping them know where and when to access the care that will best meet their needs.

Bernardine Rees OBE, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Argyle Medical Group Patient Participation Group to help people to choose the right healthcare service for them.

“The group have been extremely proactive in supporting the Practice by advising on the variety of options available to patients, helping to free up GP time for patients with urgent needs.

“Many people don’t realise that our highly skilled community pharmacists can help with a range of treatments including some minor injuries and ailments.

“By 'Choosing Well', patients will receive the most appropriate treatment, ensuring that our busy GP surgeries and emergency services can help those who need them most.”

 Cllr Dennis Evans, Chair of Argyle Medical Group Patient Participation Group said: “The thought of engaging and listening to patients was one of the reasons why the Patient Participation Group chose the ‘Choose Well’ campaign as one of their first initiatives.

“The current pressure on health provision, and in particular GP services, gave the group the opportunity to discuss with patients the range of services available to them.

“Patients gave their time freely and were quite open about their feelings on local health issues.”

To find out more about how you can Choose Well please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/choosewell    

In emergencies always dial 999. For non-urgent advice call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk