17-19 Heaton Road, Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 1SA

Telephone: 0191 265 5911

PPG – What does it involve?

We are looking for patients to join our Patient Participation Group (PPG).

What is a Patient Participation Group?

Patient Participation Groups are a route for patients to work together with the Practice to advise on what matters most to patients and to help identify solutions to problems.

As a member of the PPG, you will be acting as a ‘critical friend’ by helping the Practice appreciate and understand what patients are thinking and saying about issues, such as the telephone system. As well as, highlighting what works well within the Practice. Your experiences of the Practice matter and we would love to hear your input as a patient of our service.

The PPG meetings are held quarterly on an evening at Heaton Road Surgery.

Who can join a Patient Participation Group?

The PPG is open to every patient registered with Heaton Road Surgery. We encourage all people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and those with health conditions and disabilities to join.

I’m unable to attend the meetings but can I still get involved?

If you are unable to attend a PPG meeting, you can request to be a ‘virtual’ member. By doing this, you will still get sent an agenda as well as the minutes following each meeting. You will have the opportunity to add your own suggestions via email.

What happens at a meeting?

Each meeting will have well thought out objectives. A member of the Practice Management team will send an email with the agenda before each meeting so you can see what will be discussed and you will have the opportunity to add your own agenda.

At the meeting, it will be the members of the PPG, a member of the Practice Management Team as well as a GP Partner who attend. This will ensure that the PPG works as a Partnership with the Practice and, in that way, it can achieve a great deal more.

What are the benefits of patients joining the Patient Participation Group?

  1. You will have a better understanding of the Practice, how the Practice works and it’s staff.
  2. The Practice will have a better understanding on how patients are finding the service.
  3. It will create a communication channel between patients and staff.
  4. Patient’s will have a forum to suggest positive ideas and issues to improve upon.
  5. The Practice will be able to get help from patients in meeting targets and objectives.
  6. The Practice will have a forum to test ideas and suggestions to patients.

Ground rules of the Patient Participation Group

  1. A PPG meeting is not to discuss any personal complaints about the care you have received from the Practice. If you wish to make a complaint this should be done via the complaints policy. This can be found by clicking the link to the Complaints Policy. A PPG has to represent a whole Practice population and so must have a strategic and overarching focus to benefit the experiences of all patients at the Practice.
  2. Have an open and honest communication.
  3. Be flexible, listen and ask for help and support each other.
  4. All views are valid and will be listened to.
  5. Please put phones on silent.
  6. Start and finish on time.
  7. Stick to the agenda.

Date published: 13th October, 2014
Date last updated: 7th February, 2024