Friends of Greystone House Patient Participation Group
Les Rundle, treasurer of Greystone House Surgery’s PPG in Surrey, explains how gaining charitable status enabled his group to buy and donate equipment to the surgery
Les joined the Friends of Greystone House PPG around 18 months ago, and is now treasurer for the group. He joined as a way of nurturing his interest in healthcare economics.
The PPG was established eight years ago to represent the patients’ interests to the practice and to act as a sounding board for ideas suggested by the practice. The group comprises around 15 core members and is particularly keen to recruit younger members in order to ensure the group is fully representative of the local patient population.
Every so often, the group arranges for guest speakers to visit the surgery and talk to patients and the local community on specific health and well-being issues. Recent events have included a talk from a consultant dermatologist and from a representative of the local retirement home.
However, according to Les, the group’s key success to date has been gaining charitable status, which has allowed it to raise funds to buy and donate equipment to the surgery. Most notably, the group has bought blood pressure monitors and has paid for carpet cleaning and gardening costs, which has made the overall experience for patients visiting the practice more pleasant and enjoyable.