The Meadowfields Practice Patient Participation Group
Geraldine Evans, founding member of the Meadowfields Practice PPG in Derby, talks about setting up a bereavement service and running health awareness events.
Getting started
Geraldine is one of the founding members of the Meadowfields Practice PPG in Chellaston, Derby. The PPG was established in August 1998, when a new nurse lead practice was established in the village as a pilot scheme. The practice initially had just 500 patients and the PPG was set up to support it. However in the past eleven years, the number of patients has grown considerably and the PPG has helped achieve a number of key objectives.
Geraldine was keen to get involved with the PPG following the death of her husband, who had been suffering from cancer. “After losing my husband, I realised how important it was to have a say in the way healthcare services were delivered. I was surprised that the practice that I was then registered with hadn’t offered me any bereavement counselling, so when I joined Meadowfields PPG I helped to set up a bereavement service at the practice.” Now, patients receive a call from a member of the Meadowfields team a month after the death of a loved one, to check that they are coping, and to offer support.
Giving patients a voice
Over the years, the PPG has developed a good understanding of the needs of patients - through having a presence in the practice each week to chat to patients, and making themselves available to those who need their help. They have also introduced a suggestion box to allow patients to pass on comments - both praise and concern – to the practice. Geraldine says “It took a while to get established, but I am pleased to say it has proved popular with patients who wish to remain anonymous. The practice is taking onboard and dealing with the issues raised by the PPG, sorting the minor problems and reviewing staff training where necessary.”
Creating a community
The group holds a number of networking events, which are a great way to socialise as well as share ideas with other groups in the area. “We set up a social group for older people in the village, called ‘Friends of Meadowfields’. The aim of the group was to reduce loneliness and provide people with friendly, regular contact with others in similar situations. We now have over 35 members, ranging up to the age of 80, and we meet on a monthly basis, for lunches, day trips and other social events.
Health education
The group has also held a number of health awareness events, including a ‘Well Man’ event which included representation from a local gym and carers association and with nurses in attendance talking about healthy eating, and taking blood pressure, weight, and BMI checks. They are currently planning a testicular cancer awareness day at the Derby Football Ground which they hope will attract a wider age range of men from the community.
Protecting services
According to Geraldine, one of the group’s proudest moments was helping to save the practice’s baby clinic, which was threatened with closure. Through spending time at the baby clinic building rapport with young parents from the surrounding community, the parents and the PPG were able to work in unison and prevent closure. The baby clinic still flourishes, with an average of thirty parents and babies at each session.