Patient Participation Group

 

The Allum Practice have an established Patient Participation Group.  This Group consists of volunteer patients who contribute some of their time to the development of the Practice.

About the PPG

The aim of the Group is to hold monthly meetings to promote co-operation and strengthen communication between the Practice, patients and the wider community for the benefit of all.  It will be a forum for constructive discussion in areas such as health, improvement of services and other topics determined by the Group.

Our Practice has an active patient group with over 12 members. The PPG operates on a voluntary basis, meeting every three months with members, a GP partner and members of the management team.  During these meetings, we discuss patient-related issues and encourage patients to take an active interest in their healthcare.

The National Association of Patient Participation lists the following aims and objectives of a PPG

  • Giving patient and health professionals the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest.
  • Providing a means for patients to make positive suggestions about the Practice and their own health care
  • Encouraging health education activities within the Practice
  • Developing self-help projects to meet the needs of fellow patients

Further information can be obtained from the PPG notice board in the Allum reception area where contact details are available. If you have any subject that you would like to discuss please contact Paul Doherty (PPG Chair) via The Allum reception.

Latest PPG Minutes

  • Date: 3rd March 2025
  • Present: Paul Doherty - Chair, Willard McCarty - Secretary, Dr Surinder Seehra, Gill Charters, Fiona Davison, Atif Riaz
  • Apologies: Vaish Sheth, Rukaiya Moola, Keith McCarthy

Paul opened the Meeting welcoming everyone.

Apologies for absence: Vaish Sheth, Rukaiya Moola, Keith McCarthy

  • The Minutes of the last meeting were distributed and seconded.  It was agreed that these would be published on the Allum website for patients to see.
  • There has been a change in Membership.  Amy Amburadawan and Veronica Lindsay-Addy have resigned due to personal reasons.
  • Willard was asking about the referral process and why there is such a long waiting list for Whipps Cross Hospital.   Gill explained that there are never any appointments showing at Whipps Cross on our portal.  We have to ‘defer to provider’ which puts the onus on the Hospital to contact the patient direct with an appointment.  2 week wait referrals (suspected cancer) are important and the patient is normally seen within the 2 week period or sent for investigations.
  • The waiting list for other hospitals are the same.  Sometimes The Holly Hospital and The Spire London a patient can be seen a lot quicker but they will not accept patients with any co-morbidities as they are not equipped to deal with emergencies.
  • Willard said that he had a very pleasant experience with our ‘e consult’ system although was concerned how some patients might find it hard to navigate through the fixed categories of illnesses leading to self-diagnosis and perhaps serious mis-categorisation.   Dr Seehra explained that e consult is an NHS creation and out of the hands of the Allum.    Willard said that was pleased with a recent referral to his pharmacist which he said worked for him.
  • Willard also requested for the clinical staff to present the PPG with problems that the staff would like the PPG Members input.  Dr Seehra said that he would put this before the staff and see what his colleagues think about it.
  • The subject of 8am appointments was mentioned by Fiona and the Government announcing that more appointments will be available for patients.  Dr Seehra said we have not heard anything official on this yet. We admitted that there was always a ‘scramble’ for appointments on the day especially at this time even though we offer more than the accepted appointments with our clinicians.  The PPG were asked to come up with ideas to alleviate the 8am rush.
  • It was agreed to update the PPG board as it had become a bit drab and also to invite new members to join the PPG.  Gill said that she will tidy up the board and put out fresh applications to join.  PPG members were welcome to make changes – it is their board.
  • Members enquired about the RSV vaccine  (respiratory syncytial virus) – which protects against pneumonia and bronchiolitis (a chest infection that affects babies).  Dr Seehra confirmed that this is offered to patients at the Surgery between the ages of 75-79 and pregnant women from 28 weeks onwards to protect baby after they are born.
 

AOB

It was also mentioned that there is not a current list in reception of all Clinicians.  This was agreed to be rectified by Gill. 

The Meeting closed at 5:15pm.

 

Next Meeting

Monday 9th June 2025 at 4pm hours at The Allum Medical Centre