A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors and staff. The NHS requires every practice to have a PPG. Riverside and Chudleigh Practice have an active PPG. The work of the PPG is coordinated by a Core Group of 10 people (CorePPG); this group meets every other month or so, and is made up from patients from both Riverside and Chudleigh Practices. The purpose of the Core Group PPG meetings is to respond to the feedback, ideas and thoughts of the practice patients and staff with the aim of making things work as well as it can for all involved. For example, reviewing surveys such as ‘Friends and Family’ surveys or suggestions made by patients. For example over the last six months we have: • Agreed our ways of working, established terms of reference of the PPG and we are gradually building up contacts with our vPPG (see below) • We have reviewed and responded to the ‘Friends and Family’ surveys at both Riverside and Chudleigh and carried out observations in both practices to gather more information about for example, confidentiality in reception areas. • We have agreed who will represent our PPG at meetings outside the practice, for example at the Newton Abbot PPG forum • Established a patient suggestion box in both Riverside and Chudleigh to encourage feedback. Topics we are working on at the moment include: • Devising a directory of local health and care services. • Working with the practice on how patients can make best use of their appointments by making the best use of their time with medical staff. • Representing the practice at health related forums. As well as the core PPG we are establishing a virtual PPG (vPPG). All patients (including their carers) may belong to the vPPG. The virtual PPG is a group of patients who would like to be part of the process of making things better but prefer to give their views and feedback mostly by email. (Any form of feedback is welcome if email is not available) Information such as practice newsletters, minutes of the CorePPG meetings and surveys will be shared mostly by e mail but are also available to patients on the practice website. The aim of having a vPPG is to make sure that there is a good flow of information both to and from all patients so you can still be kept informed, give your views and participate. This means that all patients can contribute their views on any themes or idea and these will be reviewed by the core PPG at their meetings. Also the core PPG may consult on any themes or ideas that arise by contacting vPPG members and asking for their views. We would like to be able to contact you to ask for your views, so if you are willing for us to do that, please just make sure the next time you contact the surgery you check they have your email address. If you do not use email an alternative way of getting in touch would be useful. So why should you join in....? Your experiences matter and you can bring different ideas to the surgery. A new leaflet outlining the PPG’s work, and how you can join in will shortly be available in both Riverside and Chudleigh surgeries as well as on line from the practice website. In the meantime if you want any more information please do not hesitate to get in touch at btcp.ppg@nhs.net or speak to Amanda, the Practice Manager.