The North Harbour Medical Group (NHMG) has a small but active Patient Participation Group (PPG). The PPG meets formally every couple of months, with the Practice Manager and the operations manager.
We regularly have GPs and other clinicians at the meetings. We discuss matters in relation to delivery of patient services including vaccination programmes, staff recruitment and retention, patient feedback and issues to do with the premises.
We also engage with the practice in relation to the plans for the new building at Treetops, Cosham. A summary of each meeting is available on the NHMG website. We also engage with Practice informally in between meetings and the Practice Manager is always generous with her time.
The PPG Chair is also a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight integrated care system (ICS) communications and engagement group and regularly provides feedback to the NHS through this group and attending focus groups and workshops.
Recent PPG discussions include the effective use of e-Consult, communications strategies for digital healthcare and in relation to care navigation to help ensure that GPs, and other healthcare professionals, are available where there is a clinical need. The aim is help patients to be the aware of the other opportunities that exist for healthcare services.
The PPG would like to thank all GPs, other clinicians, the professional support staff and the care navigators in reception for the outstanding work they do in delivering healthcare services to patients in these highly demanding times.
Please keep up the good work, you are very much appreciated.
Stephen Pilbeam
NHMG PPG Chair