Join our Patient Participation Group (PPG)

What is the Patient Participation Group or PPG?

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors and staff. The NHS requires every practice to have a PPG.

Why should I join?

You have been to the surgery as a patient, parent, carer or friend.

Your experiences matter and you can bring different ideas to the surgery to help us treat patients better or to improve what we do in some way.

You will also gain a better understanding of the NHS, and gather feedback from other patients.

How often does the Patient Participation Group meet?

We meet, but not too often, led by a committee voted for by the patients. If you can’t make meetings then don’t worry – you can still be part of our virtual group.

Who manages the mailing list for the PPG? 

The mailing list will be held by the GP surgery and any emails sent so that individual’s emails are not shared with others.

Read the latest news from our PPG here!
A virtual group is a group of patients who would like to be part of the Patient Participation Group but prefer not to attend meetings. They get involved by email instead. Information such as practice newsletters, minutes of the Patient Participation Group meetings and surveys will be shared electronically. It means that if you can’t make face-to-face meetings, are caring for someone and unable to leave them, or are working, you can still be kept informed, give your views and participate.
Your views are important and will be listened to. It may not be possible to act on every suggestion, but all feedback is very valuable. Working in a spirit of mutual respect, openness and trust, all patients’ views will be discussed and, where appropriate, we will work together on solutions. If you are interested in learning more about our Patient Participation Group, please complete the below online form. Alternatively, you can ask us about it when you next visit the practice.

Meeting Minutes & Agendas

2025

Wednesday 9th July – 9:30 am (Agenda)

Sandra Claxton – Primary Care Network Manager NN1

  • Apologies                                              (JE)
  • Minutes of Last Meeting                         (JE)
  • Matters Arising                                      (JE)
  • Update on NN PPG network meeting      (JE)
  • NHS App                                              (MS)  
  • Financial Update                                   (JE)
  • Update on the Community Pharmacies   (PC/JE)                 
  • Practice Update                                    (KD)
  • Members Matters                                  (PPG Representatives)
  • Any Other Business                               (All)
Quote / Testimonial:
Date of next meeting: Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Wednesday 4th June

Present:
Janet Eastwood (Chair), Sue Cotterill (Treasurer), Roz Treadway, Refiloe Joka-Serote, Katie Platt, Felicity Tomlinson, Sarah Free, Pam Rickett, Mike Stephenson, Sarah Childs and Pauline Craske (PM, part)

Apologies:
Lesley Vernon, Adrian Vernon, Gordon Hare and Freddie Stening

Pam Rickett was welcomed to the meeting.

Minutes: Read and agreed.

Matters arising:

  • Tombola organised to be outside Keys Estate Agents.

North Norfolk PPG’s network

  • PPG workshop planned for November 2025 with possible venue in Aylsham
  • Good news received that Norfolk and Waveney ICB have cancelled the planned changes to Norwich walk in centre, vulnerable adults services and GP out of hours services.
  • JE attended a Norfolk Primary Care Research meeting last week in Norwich. She was invited to see where the Network could get involved in planned Primary Care research.

NHS App

MS updated the group on the May figures

  • We have 57% of patients aged 13+ registered for the NHS App, that is 4956  patients
  • 10550 logins in May
  • 1,058 repeat prescriptions ordered. 
  • 51 Appointments cancelled remembering that this doesn’t include data from Systmonline
  • Weybourne Tea & Tech no new registrations. Main support was going through the online consultation form
  • Workshops planned for Thursday 6th June, 19th June, 3rd July and 17th July. Help offered by some of the group
  • MS also an interesting update on what is happening with the services that are being added to the App including 1,500 Community Pharmacies. Updating Health records is advancing and getting more patients have their appointments online which is currently saving the NHS £2.5 million per year.

Action:

  • To continue to provide valuable workshops to local residents

Finances:

  • SC gave an update on the Finances which stand at £1,354.63p
  • Keys Estate Agents have kindly allowed the group a space for a tombola on their forecourt. Date agreed for Saturday 26th July 9-1pm

Update on Community Pharmacies

  • PR gave a good report about how prompt Boots pharmacy are at present. The dispensary are receiving on average 30 calls a day from Jhoots (when open) for advice on alternative medication if they can’t source the original.
  • Jhoots continue to have random closures which are having a huge impact on the surgery with no explanation given. Repeat medication slips have been stopped yet again which has caused problems.

Action:

  • PPG to make contact with Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk MP) to update him on the concerning situation.

Practice Matters:

Kayleigh Dorey –  Surgery Quality Improvement Facilitator

KD gave an interesting talk on update on the online consultation triage platform which has been in place since November 2024.

  • Phone Access data.

Total inbound calls, calls abandoned, time to answer, wait times, call-backs made and average call duration were discussed. The surgery team felt it was going well with many patients happy with the new system. Thos patients who cannot access the online service were discussed.

  • Online Triage form data

Up until end May 15,130 online forms had been completed with a 50/50 balance those filled out by patients and staff,

  • Audit planned

To understand capacity and demand across access points

Paula Fraser – Dispensing Manager

PF gave a detailed working day of the dispensary particularly valuable to the new members. This included: local chemist services and deliveries, service delivery by local pharmacies, how the Practice Dispensing Service operates and medicine supply notifications and updates.

PC gave an update on:

  • The practice has managed to recruit a new GP starting September.

Members Matters

  • MS reported that the current patient online survey had shown good satisfaction with the services. RT commented that she had heard some good feedbacks
  • JE had had a chat that morning with Sheringham in Bloom who were working on the garden and it had been mentioned about the state of the benches. JE wondered if the PPG would be allowed to give the benches a make over.

Action:

  • PC to find out who is responsible for the outside benches
Quote / Testimonial:
Next meeting Wednesday 9th July 2025