Emsworth Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Our group is now very well established and has been significantly strengthened by a number of new recruits. The last year has been very busy with various projects, the principle one being a summer evening meeting dealing with type 2 diabetes.
The evening was for around twenty five patients invited by their doctors to attend the surgery for an informal meeting to exchange experiences with each other and discuss with medical staff any related problems they did not fully understand. The take up of invitations was very good and those attending were split into three groups with a specialist diabetes nurse / doctor heading each group. The overwhelming feeling of those attending was that it had been a very useful exercise. A great deal of myths and misunderstandings had been discussed and most of those attending were asking for more of the same type of sessions. It is the intention of the PPG to arrange similar sessions on other health concerns and, as before, we would like to hear from patients if they have a particular subject we may be able to help with. Contact us in writing via the Practice Manager, Kate Hope, or why not use the suggestion box that is already in place at the reception desk at Emsworth Surgery next time you are in town. Of course we have to remember that these meetings are all staffed on a voluntary basis by all those involved, including doctors, nurses and surgery staff, for which the PPG are very grateful. Watch our notice board for more information on this and other matters.
Other Important News Emsworth Surgery has now affiliated to the N.A.P.P. (National Association for Patient Participation). (http://www.napp.org.uk/)
This will enable our PPG to access specialist help and support ensuring our local Practice benefits from the N.A.P.P. resources and will be of great assistance to us as the changes within the NHS come into effect over the next year or two.
Tony Harris, Chair Emsworth Surgery PPG |