ST GEORGES SURGERY
62 HASLINGDEN ROAD
BLACKBURN

Patient Participation Group – Report

25.08.11	First meeting of the group. 
A chairman was chosen and Mr Havard agreed to this task.
There was one main topic for the agenda and this was the formulation of a patient satisfaction questionnaire.  The questions the group wanted answers to were formulated.
It was decided to wait a further week for more ideas to come forward before the next meeting which was to be held in September.
23.09.11	
The only set agenda item was discussion about the questions to be included on the questionnaire.
However, further items were discussed around information to patients and how this is achieved.
28.10.11
The survey had been formulated and printed and the circulation of this was discussed.  It was decided that patients attending the surgery should be asked to complete.  A new page to be created on the website about the group and a link to be added to go to the questionnaire for electronic submission.  These would be collated by Mrs Barrett from the results.
A further random 50 are to be posted out, taking in to consideration the cost of postage for the usually low return of such surveys.
25.11.11
Discussion took place around the low response to the invitation to become a group member and it was decided that a further 50 random invitations should be sent out with stamped return envelopes.  Only 8 of these were returned and only 2 were requests to join the group.
Surveys totally 150 were provided to patients either by post or in the surgery.  Of these 51 were returned which represents quite a high percentage compared to other survey figures.
The results of these surveys were discussed along with other items.
1.	It appeared that not many people were aware of the late surgery on Monday evenings.  This is to be included in the new practice leaflet, information in the surgery and placed on the website.
2.	It was suggested that all the members of the group should look at the website and make comments about the content and that members of the group could ask family and friends for their opinion of the website.
3.	It was suggested that the registration questionnaire for new patients could include their e-mail address and thereby collating this information.
4.	A request was made for a raised chair to be provided in the waiting room for people with poor mobility.  This was organised.
27.01.12
Feedback regarding the website was very positive.  However, it was felt that it might be a little too wordy and the type face may be a little difficult for people with impaired vision.  This is to be looked into.
The group asked if pictures of staff could be put on the website.  This is to be investigated.  Some people have historically been reluctant to have their photographs published in this way.
Short discussion regarding commissioning.
Spare notice board in the waiting room is to be utilised by the group to promote their existence and inform patients of up and coming events.
A group newsletter was discussed  and this is to be progressed in the future.
Financial support for the group was discussed and it was decided that books could be placed in the waiting room for sale and the proceeds would be used to fund information events for the practice.  An event was organised for the evening of 22nd March 2012 for up to 50 people to attend the surgery for an informative presentation on guide dogs for the blind and then Margaret Baines and her Deputy June Barrett would provide a presentation on “The Life of a Prescription”.  It was felt that such evenings would be enjoyable and informative and give patients an insight into the workings of general practice.
A suggestion box was placed in the waiting room which would be opened by the group at the next meeting.
24.02.12
The subject of photographs was again discussed with a view to placing them on the PPG noticeboard in order that new patients would be able to identify doctors and staff.
The evening meeting and met with a poor response and it was decided that if less 25 booked then the meeting should be cancelled and the decision would be made on 16th March.
The first newsletter had been produced by Mr Havard and future topics for this were discussed.
In summary
The patient participation group has been relatively successful in its present form, however, the enthusiasm from the patients appears to be lacking as the meeting on March 22nd was cancelled due to no responses.  We should discuss this further in the hope that we can achieve such an open meeting in order that the patients have wider input into the practice they use.
The suggestions put forward by the group and taken from the questionnaires have been acted upon where practicable.
The group will go from strength to strength in coming years and it is very early days yet.  However, the members of the group continue to show great interest and enthusiasm in making this a success.