Addingham Medical Centre Patient Participation Group
Gordon Campbell, chair of Addingham Medical Centre Patient Participation Group in Yorkshire, talks about applying a modern business model to how the practice operates
Getting started
The Addingham Medical Centre PPG is a newly formed group that emerged from what was a patient steering group, established some years ago to provide a communications link between the patients and the practice. Formed to help smooth the practice’s transition into new premises, the PPG is now committed to helping it become a specialist medical centre, aiming to be able to offer extended services including minor operations, consultant visits and clinics dedicated to the needs of different patients. Gordon says: ‘Our aim is to deliver exactly what patients need, when they need it from our new one-stop medical facility.’
Communicating with patients
The group are setting up a number of means of communicating with patients, including a suggestion box in the waiting room where patients can deposit ideas on suggestion cards; bi-annual newsletters, and a brand new website hosting a wealth of information about treating minor illnesses and a range of health promotion videos are planned. When it first formed, the group delivered flyers to all members of the local community in a bid to attract new members and explain the group’s remit.
Health education
In the future, the group plans to run health promotion events for patients on a range of issues. They are currently working to get a qualified fitness instructor along to one of the first events, to speak to patients about keeping fit and healthy.