Staithes Surgery is eager to ensure that local people are actively involved in deciding how the health services they use should develop. In order to provide patients with the opportunity to express their views, our Staithes Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) was set up in 2013. Staithes PPG was established to:
- improve communications between doctors and the patients, and in particular to give feedback to the practice about the patient principle concerns and expectations
- provide an informal mechanism for receiving patients suggestions and constructive criticism about the practice and its organisation
- provide a forum for the discussion of the health education topics of interest to patients and to help patients to take more responsibility for their health
- encourage the promotion of voluntary community care, especially for the housebound and elderly
- act as a community pressure group using its influence to bring local needs to the attention of health and local authorities.
The success of changes to the NHS, in particular the closer involvement of GP surgeries in the commissioning and purchase of services, relies on ‘healthcare professionals working together with patients and the public to improve the health of the communities they serve’. Staithes PPG provides this forum.
We would welcome new members to join the group. If you are interested in becoming a member of the group then please contact the Patient Participation Group via email at ppgstaithes@aol.com or telephone the surgery asking for either Joanne Sutherland or Vicki Pearson who can pass your details to the Patient Participation Group secretary.