The PPG provides a platform for your views and opinions about the services and facilities offered at Middlestown Medical Centre.
We will discuss these thoughts with the Practice. We will also seek your opinions on changes which may be considered for improving services and facilities, bringing together both your views and those of the Practice to improve the services and facilities available to you.
We already produce a Newsletter which carries information for patients about the Practice:
Your thoughts are important. We need to hear from you if we are to be your voice in the way the Practice provides services for you.
If you wish to participate please contact the Practice or complete the online form by clicking on the button shown below.
OR: if you prefer, you can download the sign-up form below, print it out, fill it in, and post it to the Practice, put it through the letterbox, or hand it to a Receptionist.
Download the pdf version of our sign up form
We aim to acknowledge your request within a few days.
Please note that the PPG cannot become involved in matters of a specifically medical or clinical nature.
Contact the PPG
You can email your thoughts and ideas to the PPG at: [email protected].
You can also write to the PPG Chairman at Middlestown Medical Centre, New Road, Middlestown, Wakefield WF4 4PA. However, please be aware that we cannot enter into any discussion regarding your own health, the treatment which you receive from the surgery, handle any complaints, or deal with any confidential issues arising from your own personal circumstances.
Ways You Can Help
There are several ways you can help:
- Become an Active Member of the Group involved in organising activities, events and research projects with which the Group will become involved.
- Sign up as a Virtual Member; an on-line member who can be involved in the discussions of the Group.
- Join an on-line Survey Group; we will consult with members of the Survey Group on issues where we need a wider consultation.
- Join as a member willing to help out at events which we hope to arrange periodically.
Mission Statement
Middlestown Patient Participation Group is raised to act as a bridge serving the surgery provision, its aim, its staff and the needs of all the patients it serves.
Aims and Objectives
- To participate in the health improvement of the local population
- To have knowledge on issues that impact on health
- Sharing experience and feeding back
- Identifying areas with scope for improvement
- Highlighting excellence
- Turning knowledge into action
- Supporting change
- Linking into the community
The PPG will meet up to 6 times per year
Constitution
CONSTITUTION
1. NAME
The name of the group shall be ‘The Middlestown Patient Participation Group’ (PPG) of the Middlestown Medical Centre.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To participate in the health improvement of the local population
To have knowledge on issues that impact on health
Sharing experience and feeding back
Identifying areas with scope for improvement
Highlighting excellence
Turning knowledge into action
Supporting change
Linking into the community
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open and free to all patients and staff of the Practice. There must be a minimum of four members including the Chairman or Vice Chairman to constitute a quorum at each meeting. The PPG shall have a maximum of 20 patient members at any one time, excluding Virtual Members. Initially members will serve for three years but can be re-elected. Nominations for election to the PPG should be with the Note Taker two weeks before the AGM. Verbal nominations can be put forward and considered at the AGM. Voting will be by secret ballot.
The PPG may co-opt members with special expertise from time to time as required.
The PPG shall hold its first meeting immediately after the AGM for the sole purpose of electing from among its members a Chairman, Vice Chairman, a Note Taker and (if needed) a Treasurer. Election of Officers shall be by show of hands. These officers shall hold office for one year but are eligible for re-election.
The PPG will undertake an annual review of attendance at full PPG meetings. If a member has attended less than 50% of the meetings they may be asked to leave the group under the Terms of Reference.
4. MEETINGS
The PPG will normally meet up to 6 times per year.
Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the PPG.
5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
An AGM shall be held annually in October. Notice of the time, day and place will be given via the local press and notice boards in the three Practice premises. If there is a newsletter published by the Group the notice will be posted in the newsletter distributed at a date prior to the AGM.
Any item for the AGM must be sent to the Note Taker at least four weeks prior to the AGM.
Minutes will be kept of the AGM.
6. REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
The committee shall present a report of the activities of the PPG during the previous year at each AGM. If the PPG operates a bank account and undertakes fundraising, as in Clauses 7 & 8, a statement of accounts up to the end of the financial year, 31 March, will be produced.
7. FINANCE
The PPG does not need a bank account to operate, however, the PPG has the option to operate such bank accounts as they may deem necessary to prudently administer any PPG funds. These accounts shall be operated by signature of up to four members of the PPG with at least two to sign for any withdrawal of funds. The account shall be called the Middlestown Patient Participation Group account. All monies collected by the PPG, or patients and staff on its behalf, shall be handed to the Treasurer who shall pay the same into the PPG account.
No member of the Practice, either patients or staff, shall acquire any personal interest in funds belonging to the PPG or receive any remuneration from the PPG’s funds.
If the PPG does operate a bank account and has funds reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid to PPG members.
8. FUND RAISING
The Group has the option to raise funds to fulfil the Aims and Objectives.
9. WINDING UP OF THE MIDDLESTOWN PPG
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the PPG there remains, after all
proper debts have been met, any property whatsoever the same shall be given
to the Practice to use at their discretion.
A copy of the final statement of accounts shall be provided (If Clauses 7 and 8 are in effect).
10. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any of the above Clauses may be rescinded, amended or waived at an AGM or Special Meeting called of which proper notice shall be given to all. Two thirds of members at that meeting, voting by show of hands, must agree to the alteration.
Any member of the group may request a full copy of this constitution.
Approved by the PPG on 27 September 2012
Amended at the AGM, 24 May 2016
Amended at the AGM, 10 October 2024
Terms of Reference
INTRODUCTION
The key role of the group is to bring together patients, doctors and members of the practice team to work in partnership in order to promote the wellbeing of patients and support the practice to provide a high quality of care and service delivery.
- MEMBERSHIP
Any patient at the practice is eligible to join the group/group meetings.
- CHAIRING THE MEETINGS
The Chairman of the PPG will be elected annually. A Vice Chairman will be elected annually.
- ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Quorum – Quorum for the PPG constitutes a minimum of 4members attending which must include the Chairman or Vice Chairman.
Frequency of Meetings – PPG will normally expect to meet up to 4 times per year with the option of additional extraordinary meetings to address specific issues.
Members are required to declare any interest that may conflict with their role in the group. If any member is unclear about conflicting interest, they should declare this and seek further guidance.
It would be appreciated if members could commit to attending 50% of meetings as a minimum expectation.
It would be useful if group members read all information that is given to them before the meeting and prepare any questions/issues they wish to raise.
All group members must be willing to undertake work if asked by the PPG e.g. conducting surveys.
Send apologies if you are unable to attend the meeting.
Only one person to speak at a time.
Treat each other with respect even if you do not agree with things that are being said. Challenge politely.
Mobile phones – switch to Silent Mode/turn off.
All members of the group will be contacted in advance and invited to raise items to be placed on the agenda.
Stick to the agenda.
Meeting is not to talk about individuals but issues raised.
Everyone must respect confidentiality. Sometimes we must decide not to write things down or tell other people about what we have heard.
If someone is bad mannered/rude, they can be asked to leave the meeting.
If someone can no longer commit to the PPG, they must inform the practice.
- ROLE AND FUNCTIONS
Act as a planning tool – can be consulted on service development and provision.
Provide feedback on patients’ needs, concerns and interests.
Feedback information from the community, in general, which may affect healthcare.
Give feedback to NHS Trusts on NHS consultations.
Liaise with other Patient Participation Groups in the area.
Will not act as a forum for discussion of personal or health-related complaints against the Practice.
- RELATIONSHIPS AND REPORTING
Minutes of meetings will be forwarded to the Practice Manager.
Practice Manager/GP or representative will be invited to attend all PPG meetings.
PRG Network – It is proposed to have representation on this group (meet quarterly)
- REVIEW OF TERMS OF REFERENCE
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed when required.
Date: 10 October 2024
The National Association of Patient Participation
This association aims to promote the role and benefits of PPGs to patients, the public and health professionals, to create more understanding of the value of true patient participation also to promote the support available from N.A.P.P. Find out more about them click here.
The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The Data Protection Act 2018 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.