Patient Participation Group

 

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) meets to provide a forum for discussion about the practice.

About the Patient Group

The purpose of a Patient Participation Group is to ensure that patients are involved in decisions about the range and quality of services provided by their practice.  These groups can be crucial in providing us with patient feedback on the access to the surgery and systems such as appointment booking but also helping us to make the experience attending the surgery a positive one for all.

We are looking for a broader range of patients to join in order to give a good balance to the group.

What does the PPG do?

The NHS are supportive of PPGs and is keen to see more patients engage with their local practice and on wider health issues.  It recognises that this involves two different but complementary PPG roles:  1. helping their GP practice to improve services for patients and 2. contributing to the NHS's clinical commissioning plans.

1. The PPG helps the Practice communicate and build prositive relationshsips with it patients population.  The core objective of the PPG is to support the Practice to achieve its health promotion aims by liaising between patients and the Practice.  It is a forum for considering the wider issues of running the practice, and for introducing new ideas and initiative.  Patients' views are sought through regular patient surveys, which are analysed to formulate an action plan, which is implemented by the Practice.

2. The PPG is invited to comment on the NHS's plans for care provision in all area as they come under review, such as emergency provision, frailty management, diabetes treatment, etc.  Your experience of NHS treatment is a valued input to planning furure provision. Blithehale medical centre is supportive of the NHS's patient-driven model, and welcomes patients getting involved.
The PPG does not deal with individual issues between doctor and patient.

Interested in joining?

If you are interested in joining our Patient Reference Group, please complete our secure online form below and an Officer of the Group will get back to you as soon as possible.

Join the Patient Group

The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.

Latest PPG Minutes

Date: 15 April 2026

1. Welcome & Introductions

  • Rahamon Adeleke (PPG Lead) opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and referenced the last meeting (January 2026).
  • The PPG motto was reaffirmed: “Coming Together is the beginning, Being Together is Progress, Working Together is Success.”
  • Leo D’Souza (Chair) formally chaired the meeting and thanked attendees.
  • All participants introduced themselves, stating their association with the practice. Attendees:
    • Leo D’Souza (Chair) – 4 years
    • Hortencia D’Souza – 4 years
    • Mohammed – 15 years
    • Caroline – 25 years
    • Sahifa (Staff Manager) – 9 years
    • Kevin– 16 years
    • Nippo – 1 month
    • Joy Godsell – 10 years
    • Rahamon Adeleke (Staff) – Since Jan 2026
    • Bola Jacobs (Practice Manager) – 8 years
    • Raj (Partner/Staff) – 10 years

2. Purpose of the PPG

  • The Chair outlined the core purpose of the PPG:
    • Act as a patient voice platform
    • Contribute to service improvement and decision-making
    • Provide constructive feedback
    • Operate as a “critical friend” (support + challenge)
    • Strengthen collaboration between patients and staff
  • Ground rules reiterated:
    • Respectful communication
    • No interruptions
    • Time awareness to allow inclusive participation

3. Review of Previous Meeting (January 2026)

  • Key Points Reviewed
    • Improvements to:
      • Website access
      • Communication systems
      • Inclusion and representation

4. Minutes of the Meeting circulation

  • Agreed to be shared within 15 days prior to meetings
  • Preferred communication: Email, SMS, and telephone (where needed)
  • Website limitations:
    • Practice staff clarified changes are subject to ICB guidelines
    • Updates may take after one year
    • Patient feedback: Suggestions welcomed and to be channelled via the PPG Led Outcome

Reinforced importance of:

  • Continuity
  • Accountability
  • Transparency in progress

5. Patient Experience & Suggestions for Improvement

a. Appointment Access & Triage

  • • Concerns raised regarding:
    • Difficulty in advance booking
    • Preference for continuity with the same GP
    • Challenges with triage system
  • Staff response:
    • Explained current triage process and constraints
    • Acknowledged access remains a key issue

b. Face-to-Face vs Online Consultations

  • Strong patient preference for face-to-face consultations
  • Concerns:
    • Feeling isolated or unheard in triage
    • Over-reliance on online consultations
  • Commitments:
    • Individual cases (e.g. Caroline) to be reviewed personally by Practice Manager
    • Ongoing improvements in progress

c. Reception & Patient Interaction

  • Concerns about:
    • Being triaged publicly at reception
    • Need for privacy and sensitivity
  • Staff acknowledged:
    • Importance of patient dignity
    • Need for training and consistency (especially with new staff)

d. Continuity of Care

  • Strong emphasis on:
    • Seeing the same GP regularly
    • Building rapport and trust

e. Digital Access

  • Mixed experiences:
    • Some patients comfortable with online systems (ACCURX, smartphone use)
    • Others prefer traditional or face-to-face methods

f. Overall Feedback

  • Staff recognised as helpful and approachable
  • Communication identified as a key improvement area

5. Committee Structure

  • Agreed need to formalise PPG structure:
    • Chair
    • Vice Chair
    • Secretary
    • Practice Lead
  • Proposal:
    • Encourage patient volunteers
    • Develop structure collaboratively
  • Meetings
    • Frequency: Quarterly
    • Next Meeting: 15 July 2026 at 16:30 (agreed by majority)

6. Actions & Next Steps

Agreed Actions

  • Circulate MOM to members, Rahamon Adeleke, Within 2 weeks
  • Maintain communication (Email/SMS/Phone), PPG Lead, Ongoing
  • Review patient concerns (e.g. access, triage cases), Practice Manager & Staff, Ongoing
  • Improve patient awareness of website systems, PPG & Patients, Ongoing
  • Collect patient feedback (suggestion box/surveys), Practice Staff & PPG, Ongoing
  • Encourage PPG participation & representation, All Members, Ongoing

Additional Notes

  • Website changes subject to ICB constraints (up to 1 year)
  • Face-to-face consultation improvements in progress
  • PPG confirmed as patient-led initiative Ongoing

7. Any Other Business (AOB)

Community Engagement

Need to strengthen PPG membership and diversity:

  • Women
  • Young people
  • Ethnic minorities
  • Vulnerable groups

Key questions raised:

  • “Who is not represented?” and “How can we reach them?”
  • Suggested approach: Word of mouth outreach – Posters

Awareness

  • Posters displayed in reception promoting health awareness programmes

Feedback Round – “One Good Thing”

Participants highlighted:

  • Opportunity to voice concerns
  • Community engagement
  • Improved meeting quality
  • Value of patient voice platform

8. Closing Remarks

Thanks, extended by:

  • Rahamon Adeleke (PPG Lead)
  • Bola Jacobs (Practice Manager)
  • Raj (Partner)
  • Leo D’Souza Emphasis on:
    • Collaboration
    • Continuous improvement
    • Stronger community representation

Next Meeting 15 July 2026 4:30pm