MARDEN MEDICAL CENTRE PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP
History of the Marden Medical Centre Patient Participation Group
From as early as 2004 General Practices in England were encouraged to support the development and implementation of Patient Participation Groups.
The Marden Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG), originally known as the Patient Reference Group or PRG, was formed in November 2011 following a presentation by NHS Kent and Medway. The presentation explained what a PPG was, how it could be an asset to both patients and the practice, as well as what it was not. Those who had expressed an interest attended an initial meeting of 22 patients and staff from which it was clear that there was support for the idea of forming such a group.
At the group’s first meeting in December 2011 all present were co-opted to the Committee and five officers were appointed. The main business of the meeting was to discuss a draft Constitution and the production of a patient survey which was required to be conducted in 2012. The draft Constitution was adopted in February 2012 and was then refined at the Group’s first AGM.
In response to the results of the Survey the PPG made recommendations to the Practice in the form of an Action Plan. as to what might be done to further improve the services offered to patients.
The initial advocates of the forums suggested that the key benefits were:
Since its inception the Marden PPG has been involved in activities that have supported all of these objectives, for example:
The Marden Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG), originally known as the Patient Reference Group or PRG, was formed in November 2011 following a presentation by NHS Kent and Medway. The presentation explained what a PPG was, how it could be an asset to both patients and the practice, as well as what it was not. Those who had expressed an interest attended an initial meeting of 22 patients and staff from which it was clear that there was support for the idea of forming such a group.
At the group’s first meeting in December 2011 all present were co-opted to the Committee and five officers were appointed. The main business of the meeting was to discuss a draft Constitution and the production of a patient survey which was required to be conducted in 2012. The draft Constitution was adopted in February 2012 and was then refined at the Group’s first AGM.
In response to the results of the Survey the PPG made recommendations to the Practice in the form of an Action Plan. as to what might be done to further improve the services offered to patients.
The initial advocates of the forums suggested that the key benefits were:
- Informed decision making
- Health advocacy
- Programme and premises development
- Policy implementation
- Evaluation of services
Since its inception the Marden PPG has been involved in activities that have supported all of these objectives, for example:
- It has worked with the Practice to prepare the Surveys to measure patient requirements, wishes and satisfaction
- The Health Fair organized in 2014 was attended by over 200 patients and aimed to promote better health and nutrition in the community
- The group has helped with providing direction and information during building works
- Officers of the PRG attend meetings of West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group and report to the surgery and its members on the discussions and the plans outlined