Wheathampstead Patient Participation Group
Audrey Capy, founder of the Wheathampstead PPG at the Village Surgery in Wheathampstead, near Harpenden, talks about the importance of being a representative of the local community to her practice.
Audrey set up the Wheathampstead PPG just one year ago, working with the Senior Partner at The Village Surgery.
The PPG is already making strides to improve local services and access to health information for the local population. Since being set up, a number of health initiatives have been run for patients, such as a talk on common childhood illnesses, aimed at providing parents of children under five with practical information and advice. Another talk is planned for patients, suffering from osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, on 11 November, when Dr Richard Keen, from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, will give a talk entitled BONES AND GROANS – Caring for Arthritis and Osteoporosis. He is a world authority in his field and Audrey feels very honoured Dr Keen has agreed to do this.
According to Audrey: “Running the PPG is hard work, but I strongly believe that patients should have more say in the way their healthcare is delivered, which makes it worthwhile.” She believes exercise and activity is paramount to good health and is setting up in the autumn 10 week Pilates classes, initially in four areas entitled: GET YOUR FIGURE BACK AFTER PREGNANCY, SHED THOSE POUNDS! RECOVERY AFTER AN OP, KEEP FIT IN RETIREMENT.
Audrey has worked hard to ensure that the volunteers sitting on the committee are representative of the entire local population - from the village magistrate to the local postman. She believes that the PPG is a great way of bringing people and their opinions together, and was pleased that the local pharmacist attended their first AGM, in order to develop a stronger relationship with the practice.