Patient Participation Group

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) meets to provide a forum for discussion about the practice.

Latest meeting minutes

Attendance 

1. Welcome

Dr Jason Machin welcomed members to the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.

2. Practice staff update

The Practice Manager provided an update on recent staffing changes.

New team members

• Dr Davina Nylander returned to the practice as a GP Registrar (February to August 2026).
• Paige Chappell joined the Care Navigation team.
• Dr Marianne Hopkins commenced as an ARRS GP working across the PCN.
• Simona Jacob joined as First Contact Physiotherapist.

Discussion

PPG members welcomed the expansion of the multidisciplinary team, particularly the introduction of the First Contact Physiotherapist, recognising the potential for patients with musculoskeletal problems to access specialist assessment more quickly without waiting for secondary care.

3. Practice Learning Time (PLT)

Dr Machin outlined the Practice Learning Time programme for 2026/2027.

Key points included:

• Four protected learning events will be held for the practice team.
• Two additional learning events will take place across the Primary Care Network.
• PCN sessions will focus on shared education and development for nursing teams.

Members welcomed the continued investment in staff education and recognised its importance in maintaining high-quality patient care.

4. Introduction of total triage

Dr Machin presented the practice’s plans to introduce Total Triage from 15 June 2026.

Information shared

• Appointment requests will primarily be submitted through an online eConsult form.
• Patients unable to use online services can continue to telephone or attend reception, where staff will complete the form on their behalf.
• All requests will be clinically reviewed by a GP before appointments are allocated.
• Urgent care arrangements and same-day access will remain available.
• Patients will continue to be able to request continuity with their usual GP wherever clinically appropriate.

Patient questions and discussion

Same-day appointments:

Members sought reassurance that urgent appointments would still be available. It was confirmed that a duty GP would continue to provide same-day urgent care.

Clinical prioritisation:

Members were informed that requests would continue to be prioritised according to clinical urgency using the existing red, amber and green system.

Disagreement with triage decisions:

Members asked how patients could challenge a triage outcome if they felt their condition required more urgent review. Care Navigators would escalate concerns back to the triaging GP, who could review the information and contact the patient directly if required.

Telephone consultations:

Members asked whether telephone appointments would continue. The practice confirmed that telephone consultations would remain available where clinically appropriate.

Practice update

The practice reported:

• eConsult usage had increased significantly following advance patient communications.
• Activity was anticipated to continue increasing following implementation.
• An adjustment period of approximately three to four months was expected while patients and staff became familiar with the new model.

PPG feedback

Members welcomed the safeguards in place for patients unable to use digital services and supported reviewing patient experience once the system had been established.

5. Mosaic Project

The Practice Manager shared an update on the proposed community mosaic project led by Dr Sophy Wollaston.

Key points:

• A new welcome mosaic is being planned for the practice entrance.
• Funding applications are underway.
• It is hoped work will begin during the autumn.
• Patients, PPG members and staff will all be invited to participate.

Members who had taken part in the previous project expressed enthusiasm about becoming involved again.

6. Any other business

Covid vaccination programme

Members asked about eligibility for the recent Covid booster campaign.

The Practice Manager confirmed:

• The Spring programme was available to patients aged 75 years and over and eligible immunosuppressed patients.
• Invitations had been issued nationally by NHS England.
• Further information regarding the Autumn vaccination programme was awaited.

7. Next meeting

It was agreed that the next PPG meeting would be held in late September 2026.

Agenda items will include:

• Review of patient experience following implementation of Total Triage.
• Practice feedback on the first three months of the new appointment system.
• General practice updates.

Actions

Agreed follow-up actions

• Continue patient communications supporting implementation of Total Triage.
• Collect patient feedback on the Total Triage model ahead of the next PPG meeting.
• Provide a further update on the Mosaic Project once funding has been confirmed.
• Confirm arrangements for the Autumn Covid and influenza vaccination programmes when national guidance is received.