An open letter to all our patients from the Patient Participation Group (PPG)
The most important thing about our group is that it is YOUR Patient Participation Group (PPG). The original group was formed in 2011 with a few changes of members and had an active core membership.
Among its main roles is that of representing the views, interests and concerns of patients. It is a means of giving you, as a patient, a real voice in how the practice delivers services to patients as a whole.
There is huge potential to get involved and it needs only involve a little of anyone’s time. The Group meets every other month for an hour at the Surgery normally on a Thursday and meetings generally do not last more than an hour despite having a full agenda.
We understand that everyone has far too many commitments these days but this is a route down which you can invest a little and see huge gains for the 15,000+ patients at the Panton Practice.
If you would like to know a little more about the Group then ask at Reception for them to put me in touch with you or vice versa. We also need members for the ‘Virtual Group’ which means you will need to have internet access. You can also find our PPG link on the Practice website.
Moving Forward with our Patient Participation Group
Central Bournemouth (Primary Care) Network
You may have seen in the media that Primary Care Networks are developing on a national level. This means that your GP Practice has joined with similar Practices to deliver some of its services as a Network rather than individual Practices. James Fisher MC, Moordown MC, Panton Practice and St Albans have together formed the Central Bournemouth Network.
For patients this means that you have remain registered with, and receive your care, from your current GP Practice, but as new services are developed, they may be offered to the whole network population to improve access and waiting times and to share resources and expertise between the four Practices, e.g. the Phlebotomy service which now offers appointments at various sites and a new Saturday clinic due to start late autumn aimed at those who find difficulty in attending appointments during the week.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Central Bournemouth Network or would like to become involved in its development, we are looking to establish a patient participation group and would be keen to hear from you.
To register your interest please contact Ms Jane Howard (CBN Manager) by email jane.howard2@nhs.net