The Patient Participation Group (PPG) enhance two-way communication between St Austell Healthcare and its patients, to promote health in any positive way we can.
We have fundraised for a Bladder Scanner which will be great for the patients as it will save a trip to Treliske. A big thank you to everyone who supported us to date.
Together with the doctors and staff of St Austell Healthcare we are always looking at ways of improving the patient experience and you can learn more about our work by reading the minutes of our meetings, which are published on the website. Everyone at the PPG is working hard to ensure success for St Austell Healthcare, but also listening to any patient difficulties that are brought to their attention.
If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to join the PPG then please email us at ppg.sah@nhs.net.
We have fundraised for a Bladder Scanner which will be great for the patients as it will save a trip to Treliske. A big thank you to everyone who supported us to date.
Together with the doctors and staff of St Austell Healthcare we are always looking at ways of improving the patient experience and you can learn more about our work by reading the minutes of our meetings, which are published on the website. Everyone at the PPG is working hard to ensure success for St Austell Healthcare, but also listening to any patient difficulties that are brought to their attention.
If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to join the PPG then please email us at ppg.sah@nhs.net.
What we can do for you
Help the Practice to Improve Services
Providing Information
Helping With Health Events
What we cannot do…
- Provide feedback from patients on any issue relevant or researched
- Monitor the accessibility of the SAH communications e.g. reception / website/ surveys and feedback to SAHC
- Carry out surveys e.g. patients satisfaction / health
- Needs / patient awareness/ available information / expectations
- Builds / services / opening hours etc.
Providing Information
- Organising a health fair for health education
- Promoting special days or health promotions e.g. no – smoking, walk to work, diet advice, diabetes, COPD, long term medical conditions, disability awareness, some cancers etc
- Representing the SAHC when patient voices are needed
- Ensuring any information is “user friendly” and available for all
Helping With Health Events
- Encouraging health education activities within SAHC
- Acting as a representative group that can be called on to influence the local provision of health and social care
What we cannot do…
- Whilst we welcome patients’ comments on the Practice (both positive and negative!), unfortunately we are not in a position to deal with any individual specific complaint regarding a patient’s treatment. All such complaints should be addressed direct to the Complaints Manager at our Head Office at Wheal Northey or by emailing complaints.sahc@nhs.net
PPG Terms of Reference
1. Title
The group shall be known as the PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (hereinafter called the PPG) of ST AUSTELL HEALTHCARE (hereinafter called SAHC) and shall be affiliated to the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP).
2. Aims and objectives
The PPG was established to promote and improve communications and co-operation between SAHC and its patients to the benefit of both, thereby fostering the highest possible standards of primary care, incorporating communications, the patients’ charter, health education, self-help, community need and local and national provision of health and social care.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership shall be freely open to all registered patients of SAHC;
3.2 There shall be one group that meets regularly in person (the PPG);
3.3 Members must register by reading and signing the Terms of Reference;
3.4 Membership of the PPG shall be automatically terminated in the event of the member ceasing to be a patient of SAHC;
3.5 A member may, without reason, terminate their membership, and membership may be terminated at the request of SAHC;
3.6 Members names will be on the notes of the PPG meetings, which is published on the SAHC website.
3.7 Members names and email addresses will be shown on emails to other PPG members.
3.8 A member who fails to attend 4 consecutive meetings shall no longer be a member; medical and other exceptional circumstances may apply at the discretion of the Chairperson.
4. Management
4.1 The management of the PPG shall be undertaken by a committee from volunteer members and practice staff, to include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson(s), Treasurer, Secretary, the SAHC PPG facilitator and nominated SAHC GP or the SAHC Manager. It will consist of a minimum of ten members, and will be able to co-opt new members as required;
4.2 The committee will be re-elected on an annual basis at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The day to day management of the PPG will be conducted by the PPG facilitator and committee officers who will consult with (if necessary), and update the full committee at the next meeting.
4.3 The Chairperson does not have a vote but, in the event of a tie, the Chairperson has a casting vote;
4.4 SAHC will, after discussion and consultation with the PPG, retain the right to overturn any decisions made by the PPG if such decisions are deemed not to be in the best interest of SAHC or the patients;
4.5 The Chairperson shall be the only media contact and will be spokesperson on behalf of the PPG.
5. Meetings
5.1 An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PPG shall be held each calendar year in September. A minimum of 21 days’ notice will be given;
5.2 All patients currently registered as members of the PPG shall be entitled to one vote, in person, in writing or by email containing their name, address and signature;
5.3 The PPG will endeavour to meet a minimum of four times a year;
5.4 The Chairperson may call special meetings of the committee if the need arises;
5.5 The committee may appoint task or working groups from any registered members and temporary associated advisory guests (who will not have voting rights);
5.6 Notices of meetings, reports, minutes and any other PPG information will be displayed on the waiting room screens and the group’s website. This will ensure maximum patient contact and keep all patients fully informed, which is a priority of the PPG.
6. Code of Conduct
Members of the PPG make a commitment:
6.1 To respect the confidentiality of the group and its patients at all times. All matters discussed to remain confidential unless agreed otherwise;
6.2 To treat each other with mutual respect, and act and contribute in a manner that is in the best interest of all patients;
6.3 To be open and flexible, listen and support each other;
6.4 To abide by the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership;
6.5 Not to use the PPG as a forum for personal agendas or complaints;
6.6 To abide by principles of good meeting practice by reading papers in advance, arriving on time and switching mobile phones to silent.
7. Alteration to the terms of reference
Any of the terms of reference may be rescinded, added to or amended by a resolution passed with a majority vote at a full committee meeting open to all members for whom proper notice has been given.
The group shall be known as the PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (hereinafter called the PPG) of ST AUSTELL HEALTHCARE (hereinafter called SAHC) and shall be affiliated to the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP).
2. Aims and objectives
The PPG was established to promote and improve communications and co-operation between SAHC and its patients to the benefit of both, thereby fostering the highest possible standards of primary care, incorporating communications, the patients’ charter, health education, self-help, community need and local and national provision of health and social care.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership shall be freely open to all registered patients of SAHC;
3.2 There shall be one group that meets regularly in person (the PPG);
3.3 Members must register by reading and signing the Terms of Reference;
3.4 Membership of the PPG shall be automatically terminated in the event of the member ceasing to be a patient of SAHC;
3.5 A member may, without reason, terminate their membership, and membership may be terminated at the request of SAHC;
3.6 Members names will be on the notes of the PPG meetings, which is published on the SAHC website.
3.7 Members names and email addresses will be shown on emails to other PPG members.
3.8 A member who fails to attend 4 consecutive meetings shall no longer be a member; medical and other exceptional circumstances may apply at the discretion of the Chairperson.
4. Management
4.1 The management of the PPG shall be undertaken by a committee from volunteer members and practice staff, to include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson(s), Treasurer, Secretary, the SAHC PPG facilitator and nominated SAHC GP or the SAHC Manager. It will consist of a minimum of ten members, and will be able to co-opt new members as required;
4.2 The committee will be re-elected on an annual basis at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The day to day management of the PPG will be conducted by the PPG facilitator and committee officers who will consult with (if necessary), and update the full committee at the next meeting.
4.3 The Chairperson does not have a vote but, in the event of a tie, the Chairperson has a casting vote;
4.4 SAHC will, after discussion and consultation with the PPG, retain the right to overturn any decisions made by the PPG if such decisions are deemed not to be in the best interest of SAHC or the patients;
4.5 The Chairperson shall be the only media contact and will be spokesperson on behalf of the PPG.
5. Meetings
5.1 An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PPG shall be held each calendar year in September. A minimum of 21 days’ notice will be given;
5.2 All patients currently registered as members of the PPG shall be entitled to one vote, in person, in writing or by email containing their name, address and signature;
5.3 The PPG will endeavour to meet a minimum of four times a year;
5.4 The Chairperson may call special meetings of the committee if the need arises;
5.5 The committee may appoint task or working groups from any registered members and temporary associated advisory guests (who will not have voting rights);
5.6 Notices of meetings, reports, minutes and any other PPG information will be displayed on the waiting room screens and the group’s website. This will ensure maximum patient contact and keep all patients fully informed, which is a priority of the PPG.
6. Code of Conduct
Members of the PPG make a commitment:
6.1 To respect the confidentiality of the group and its patients at all times. All matters discussed to remain confidential unless agreed otherwise;
6.2 To treat each other with mutual respect, and act and contribute in a manner that is in the best interest of all patients;
6.3 To be open and flexible, listen and support each other;
6.4 To abide by the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership;
6.5 Not to use the PPG as a forum for personal agendas or complaints;
6.6 To abide by principles of good meeting practice by reading papers in advance, arriving on time and switching mobile phones to silent.
7. Alteration to the terms of reference
Any of the terms of reference may be rescinded, added to or amended by a resolution passed with a majority vote at a full committee meeting open to all members for whom proper notice has been given.