health

Dartmouth Patient Participation Group – which gives feedback on services and healthcare to Dartmouth Medical Practice – is to hold its first annual meeting on November 21.

The group was formed to be a ‘critical friend’ of the Medical Practice and has been reinvigorated since the first medical practice public forums in April. Since then the group has discussed and advised the medical practice on a number of new initiatives and ideas to help improve the service it provides.

It has helped the practice introduce a new appointment system, an online booking system, and is currently helping it to produce a new patient survey.

The AGM will begin at 6pm and the group’s first chairman, vice chairman and secretary will be chosen.

The meeting is also directly before the first of the Medical Practice’s next public forums – which begins at 7pm in Townstal Community Hall on November 21.

Medical practice manager Kathy Congdon – who sits on the group as a representative of the Medical Practice and has watched the group grow and become established – said it was fitting that the PPG held its annual meeting before the forum.

“The last forum really helped the group to gain new momentum and drive,” she said. “Many of the current members got involved because they were enthused by the discussions at the forums, and wanted to get involved to help the medical practice to give the best service to all its patients as possible.

“We hope that the group will become a trusted contact for the community. If you think that there is an issue to be discussed, or would like to find out more about the medical practice and its services, you can contact a member of the PPG. They can either give you the information you require, or bring it to one of the group’s meetings for discussion, and potentially, action.”

The PPG has a dedicated page with names and contacts for all its members which can be accessed through the Dartmouth Medical Practice website: www.dartmedical.co.uk

The PPG’s Annual Meeting starts at 6pm in Townstal Community Hall on Monday November 21 – the Medical Practice Public Forum begins at 7pm. The second Medical Practice forum will be held at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club on Thursday  November 24, also starting at 7pm.