Minutes of Warders Patient Participation Meeting

Thursday, 27th February 2025

1. Dr Jess Martin opened the meeting thanking everyone for attending and taking an interest the PPG.

2. Dr Martin gave a brief history of the practice highlighting the practice staff and the outside professionals which we use such as Cancer Care Coordinator, clinical pharmacist etc.

Our mission statement was outlined....’provide high quality healthcare in a responsive, supportive and courteous manners to all our patients, with a well-trained and motivated primary healthcare team.  To be an approachable and accessible practice, making efficient use of all the health care resources available’.

Highlights of how to access the practice services were give.

The challenges the surgery faces were outlined.

3. Dr Martin explained what a Patient Participation Group is (PPG):

It is a group of people who are patients of a surgery who want to help it work as well as it can for patients and staff.  It should include different members of the community.

The benefits of volunteering for the PPG were outlined.

It was stated that a PPG is not for voicing complaints, not for getting medical advice, not a place to voice political opinions  It doesn’t give volunteers preferential care at the practice.  It also doesn’t exclude patients from participating or voicing relevant opinions as long as respectful to other.

The idea for the group is to benefit all patients whether they are a member of the PPG or not.  It is a way for patients and the surgery to communicate.  

The following websites were mentioned for more information on PPGs:

https://napp.org.uk National Association of Patient Participation

www.patients-association.org.uk  - toolkit, videos

www.healthwatchkent.co.uk

A core committee needs to be formed with a minimum of 3 people (chair person, secretary, coordinator/vice chair).  These roles can be shared.

A minimum of 4 meetings should be held in a year with the Practice attending.  More frequent meetings can be held if required.

A few examples of how the PPG can help the surgery were listed.  This was not exhaustive and other ideas can be put forward by the group.

It was agreed that people wishing to express an interest in taking up a position within the PPG should email kmicb.g82059ppg@nhs.net.  It would be appreciated if responses could be received by Friday, 14th March.

It was discussed as to whether there should be a length of term for which each position should be held.  It is to be decided whether this should be 1 or 2 years.  This would not exempt people from standing for a position for a second term.

4. Various ways of communication were discussed and this will be addressed once the committee is set up.

5. The date of the next meeting will be set once the response for the committee have been received.

6. Dr Martin thanked everyone for attending and showing an interest in the PPG.