Patient Participation Group

Having your say through the Appletree Patient Participation Group

There have been a lot of changes at Appletree in a short space of time, and judging by the debate engendered by the Health and Social Care Bill 2010/11 currently going through Parliament, there will continue to be change well into the future. Now more than ever it is important for patients to have a collective voice which is why we are keen for Appletree to have a Patients’ Participation Group (PPG).

Every PPG is unique, evolving to meet local needs. Most commonly, they work with their practices to offer the patient perspective on the services that are provided. PPGs also help to improve communication, to encourage patients to take more responsibility for their health and, to provide practical support for others in the community.

A PPG is NOT the Practice’s complaint system; nor is it a forum to air personal issues or complaints. But neither is it a Doctors' fan club. To be valuable, a PPG must have the confidence to challenge the Practice in line with any issue brought forward. And it should be self organising and patient led.

The benefits of an effective PPG are felt by the patients, the Practice and the wider community in which it operates.

If any of this has been of interest to you and you would like to learn more about the Appletree PPG I would be delighted to hear from you.

E mail me at Stephen.Leather@nhs.net

or call me on 0844 477 3536

Otherwise simply come along to one of the groups meetings, held at the Duffield Surgery on the last Wednesday of every month (start time 7.00pm). You would be very welcome.

---

More information can be found on:

Growing Patient Participation

N.A.P.P

Dear Patient,

We would like to know how we can improve our service to you and how you perceive our surgery and staff. 

To help us with this and in addition to the PPG, we are setting up a virtual patient reference group so that you can have your say. We will ask the members of this reference group some questions from time to time, such as what you think about our opening times or the quality of the care or service you received. We will contact you via email and keep our surveys succinct so it shouldn’t take too much of your time.

We aim to gather around a hundred patients from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly representative sample. We need young people, workers, retirees, people with long term conditions and people from non-British ethnic groups.

If you are happy for us to contact you occasionally by email please click the link below to open the sign-up form and complete all the fields.

Complete the Patient Group Sign-up Form Online

If you prefer, you can download the sign up form as a pdf document, print it out, complete it and return it to the practice.

Download the pdf version of our sign up form

We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form. Please note that no medical information or questions will be responded to.

Many thanks for your assistance

---

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.

Agenda

---

Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of AGM 2012

Minutes of PPG Meeting January 2012

Minutes of PPG Meeting November 2011

Minutes of PPG Meeting October 2011

 

Minutes of PPG Meeting September 2011

 

Minutes of PPG Meeting August 2011

 

Minutes of PPG Meeting July 2011

 

Minutes of PPG Meeting June 2011

Minutes of initial PPG meetings Jan-May 2011

 

---

 

PDF Documents (*.pdf)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these files

 

Constitution

Terms of Reference

Ground Rules

---

Constitution

1			The name of the group shall be the ‘Appletree Patient Participation Group’
2			Subject to the matters set out below, the Group and its property shall be jointly administered and managed in accordance with this Constitution by the members of the Group and the Practice.
3			Objectives and aims of the Group are as set out in the ‘terms of reference’. (Appendix 1)
4			The Group shall meet on a regular basis, but may decide to delegate its routine business to a Committee elected by the Group.
5			Membership
	a		Membership shall be open to all registered patients, partners and staff of the Appletree Medical Practice.
	b		All members will have voting rights.
	c		The Group shall appoint a Chairperson, Vice‐Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary, and other officers as it deems appropriate. Role specifications of PPG appointed officers
	d		The Officers of the Group shall be appointed annually at the AGM and be eligible to serve for no more than 2 consecutive terms.
	e		Additional co‐opted members may be appointed who in the opinion of the Group have special skills or knowledge to contribute to the benefit of the Group, or to assist with a specific project.
	f		Any Officer or Group member must declare any relevant personal interest. The Group shall have the right to determine whether that member shall withdraw, or be allowed to speak but not vote, or be allowed to speak and vote.
6			Powers of the Group
	a		The Group has the power to raise funds, and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Group shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.
	b		The Group has the power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objectives.
	c		The Group has the power to appoint persons in an advisory capacity and constitute advisory committees as the Group may think fit.
	e		The Group has the power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives
	f		The Group shall be mindful of the ‘ground rules’. (Appendix 2)
7			Working Groups
	a		The Group may appoint working groups to carry out activities of a specific nature of the Group.
	b		Such working groups will be directly accountable to the Group.
	c		The Group will agree in advance the Terms of Reference for any working group.
	d		Working groups will report to the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
	e		Officers of the Group may be Ex‐Officio members of any working group.
	f		All working groups shall report to the full Group and may be dissolved at the discretion of that full Group.
8			Annual General Meeting
	a		The Annual General Meeting shall take place no less than 11 months, and not more than 15 months from the date of the previous AGM.
	b		The Secretary will notify all members of the date of the meeting not less than 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.
	c		The business of the AGM will include:
		i	Report on the Group work over the last year;
		ii	Report on any working groups;
		iii	Present a statement of accounts;
		iv	Amend the Constitution if necessary, subject to members being advised of the proposed changes within the agreed timescale.
		v	Appoint the Officers of the Group, following an election if necessary.
9			Extraordinary General Meeting
	a		An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened when necessary and also upon the written request of 10 members.
	b		The Secretary will give 7 clear days notice to all members of such a meeting.
10			Quorum
	a		No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum is present.
	b		A quorum is 10 members entitled to vote upon the business to be conducted at the meeting.
	c		If the meeting is inquorate, it shall be reconvened and 7 clear days’ notice of the reconvened meeting will be given. The members present at the reconvened meeting will form a quorum.
11			Voting
	a		Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands by Members entitled to vote.
	b		A member can request a secret ballot and this is to be agreed by a majority of members.
	c		A simple majority of votes shall carry a decision.
	d		Except for elections to the Group the Chairperson of the meeting shall in the event of a tied vote have an extra casting vote.
	e		Persons can be nominated in their absence for any position on the Group, providing that the nominee’s written consent is given.
12			Finance
	a		All money received by or on behalf of the Group is to be used to further the aims of the Appletree Patient Participation Group.
	b		All money received shall be paid to the account of the Appletree Patient Participation Group.
	c		Regular financial reports of all the money raised and expended by the Group will be made available by the Treasurer and will also be received at the Annual General Meeting.
13			Equal Opportunities
	a		The Group must recognise that certain groups and individuals are discriminated against in society. The Group shall be opposed to such discrimination and committed to equality of opportunity in its business, in its relations with its members and others and in its composition of Committees.
	b		The Group will ensure that in all its dealings no one shall be disadvantaged because of their sex, marital status, sexual orientation, domestic responsibilities, age, religion, ethnic origin, race, colour, illness or disability.
14			Amendments to the Constitution
	a		Any amendment to this Constitution shall be made at a General Meeting.
	b		All proposed alterations shall be given to the Group Secretary in writing not less than 21 days before the General Meeting or Annual General Meeting. These proposals should be outlined on notices advertising the meeting at least 21 days prior to the AGM or General Meeting.
	c		Any amendment shall require the approval of a majority of members present and voting at the meeting.
	d		This constitution must be reviewed at least biennially.
15			Dissolution Clause
			If the Group decides that it is necessary to dissolve the Group, any assets remaining will be transferred to the Appletree Medical Fund.

Date adopted	27th April 2011
Signature		Chair
Signature		Vice Chair
Signature		Practice Manager
Signature		Doctor representative

---

Terms of reference

The Appletree PPG will:

1. Contribute to practice decision-making and will consult on service development and provision;

2. Provide feedback on patients’ needs, concerns and interests and challenge the practice constructively whenever necessary;

3. Serve as a conduit / link

• for dealing with patient feedback (not individual complaints) about the practice – putting forward views and creating appropriate lines of communication;
• to disseminate information to the wider patient group regarding activities and developments at the Practice, thereby aiding patient understanding.  

4. Assist the practice and its patients by arranging voluntary groups/support within the community;

5. Communicate information about the community which may affect healthcare;

6. Give patients a voice in the organisation of their care;

7. Promote good health and higher levels of health literacy by encouraging and supporting activities within the practice and promoting preventive medicine;

8. Influence the provision of secondary healthcare and social care locally;

9. Respond to issues raised, such as aftercare and support when back in the community;

10. Give feedback to NHS trusts on consultations;

11. Fundraise to improve the practice and/or fund the activities of the PPG; and

12. Liaise with other PPGs in the area.

---

Ground rules

1.   The meetings are not a forum for individual complaints and single issues.

2.   We will advocate open and honest communication and challenge between individuals.

3.   We will be flexible, listen, ask for help and support each other.

4.   We will demonstrate a commitment to delivering results, as a group.

 5.   Silence indicates agreement – speak up, but always be mindful of meeting protocols.

6.   All views are valid and will be listened to.

7.   Members not adhering to these rules can have their membership terminated by the Group. There shall be a right of appeal to the next meeting of the Group, where the decision will be final. Any decision to be taken in consultation with the Practice Manager (or representative) of the Appletree Medical Practice.

8.   No phones or other disruptions.

9.   We will start and finish on time and stick to the agenda.

10.   We will strive to:

• Make meetings accessible,
• Ensure that decisions are made openly and only after receiving information and appropriate discussion,
• Agree on dates for progress, and reports for long-term projects.
• Avoid excessive discussion about unimportant details.
• Avoid the meeting dragging on.

 11.   We will normally communicate the calling of meetings and circulation of agendas, papers and minutes by email, and will find ways to accommodate those who are not able to communicate in this way. Members are responsible for ensuring that their contact details are kept up to date.

12. We recognise that there will be differences in the perceptions of managers, professionals and lay representatives and will do our best to balance these views.

Contact the Patient Group with your feedback, suggestion, comment or question. Please do not use this form for complaints - these should always be directed to the Practice Manager

About This Form

Note that by using this form, you will be sending information about yourself across the Internet. Whilst every effort is made to keep this information secure, you should be aware that we cannot offer any guarantees of absolute privacy. If this matter concerns you then you should use another method to notify us of your comment.

Your IP address (38.107.179.241) will be sent with your communication. In rare cases where abuse or criminal activity can be shown to have taken place this may be used by the authorities to trace you.