The Practice has tried to get the current PPG membership to be reflective and representative of its practice population. 

There are 9 PRG members within the group.  There are  male and female representatives. 

Age profile:                                                Ethnicity profile:                   

5 x members: 36 – 50 years                     4 x members  White British

1 x member: 51-65 years                         2 x members Other                         

 3 x members: 66+ years                          2 x member    Asian

                                                                  1 x member    Black Caribbean

The Practice continues to collect and record the ethnicity of its practice population and feels that the PPG ethnicity profile is representative of the practice population, however, it will continue to be proactive in recruiting new members from as many ethnic backgrounds as possible. This will enable the practice to have a diverse group of patients to feedback valuable ideas and suggestions for improvement.

Practice Ethnicity Profile

42%   White British

4%    Other White

31%  Asian

4 %   Black Afro/Caribbean

5 %   Other

14%  No ethnicity

The Practice considers evening meetings to attract patients who are either in education, have children of school age or are working. Unfortunately patients such as children/young people, carers, and parents with small children in particular have not come forward or are able to offer their time. 28% of the practice population are under 16 years of age; 57% of the practice population are either in education/working and 7% are retired.  The membership of demographics of the PRG mainly reflects the larger age group within the practice profile.

The Practice has found that the current membership reflects the types of patients who have a certain level of confidence and free time and have the flexibility to attending meetings.

Over the past year North Trafford Group Practice has developed as a result of the merger of three practices, Chester Road Surgery, Qamar Medical and Seymour Grove Health Centre.  Chester Road Surgery previously had a PPG but wanted to attract new members to the group from the other two practices. North Trafford Group Practice understood that although many patients might be interested in offering their views and ideas they either did not want to or could not attend meetings. For this reason the Practice identified a need to offer patients the opportunity to become involved by joining a Virtual Panel that fed back into the PPG.   The process for both was carried out by the Practice by publicising through its website, its electronic notice board and by displaying notices in and around the Practice. The Practice also had individual invites for the GPs to personally give to patients. 

The Practice has tried to target specific registered patients, particularly under represented groups through various means.  For example, by contacting the local community groups.  

The Practice has made use of its text messaging patients.  However, the Practice has found that targeting patients who are either in education or in employment, these patients are not able to offer their time to attend meetings.  However, it has enabled the Practice to encourage patients to join its virtual PPG group. The Practice has also added a PPG application form pack as part of its registration pack for new patients.

The Practice was very keen in engaging patients to help deliver and design services around the needs of its patients.  The Practice was keen to ensure that before it sought the views of its patients on the priority areas, that the group understood its roles and responsibilities and why as a group they are central to everything the Practice does.

The PPG were keen to consider to common themes from complaints so the Practice used feedback from complaints, significant events, comments and suggestions by patients to help inform of the priority areas. The PPG wanted look at issues regarding the appointment and  repeat prescribing systems.

The PPG members agreed the priority areas for inclusion of the Practice survey.

Last year’s annual survey had been an outstanding success, for this reason it was agreed to carry out  the survey to the same principles by:

·         Keeping the survey questionnaire as short and simple as possible to encourage responses and more truthful comments.

·         Displaying posters in and around the surgery informing patients that a survey was being undertaken. 

·         Asking patients upon arrival to the surgery if they would be happy to participate in the local survey. 

·         Targeting various groups of patients and different times of the day (ante-natal, chronic disease clinics, and general routine appointments with GP/Nurses).

·         Advertising the survey on the Practice website, to enable patients visiting the website for information etc the opportunity to participate.

A total of 175 questionnaires were given out to patients by the staff and a total of 129 questionnaires were completed. These were analysed and a report of the findings was compiled.

The analysis of the local patient survey pinpointed those areas where improvements might be needed.

The results were discussed, with the PPG members. This enabled the Practice & the PPG to compile an action plan based on the findings/results.  The Practice was able to agree an action plan with the support of the PPG, which was approved by the group at its meeting held on 25 March 2013.

Patients were asked a total of 21 questions with regards to the practices’ appointment and repeat prescribing systems.

The Practice received many comments regarding the appointment system and travelling to both sites, Seymour Grove & Chester Rd,  

Responses found to be positive

Find the practice is excellent

 A friendly environment

I like it here because I can walk to the surgery & staff are friendly

Although I live nearer to Seymour Grove I would rather attend Chester Rd

Responses found to be least positive

Chester Rd

I don’t have a car so find it hard to get to both surgeries

Distance too far to travel to other surgery

Inconvenient to go to other site

Restricted to travel to other site due to work commitments

Chester Rd is within walking distance

Seymour Grove Survey (SGHC)

Not happy to attend Chester Rd, I want to stay @ SGHC

Too much to travel with small children

I like to see one GP only

GPs  must not turn away an emergency  if the appointment is for someone else, its okay for patients to wait for a  GP, but its not okay  to turn a patient away if they are late

The staff should be more patient friendly and understanding and more accessible, sometimes the staff are abrupt.

GPs need to be more approachable & offer more telephone consultations and more triages

The PPG have identified the following priorities:

·        Electronic self check in system

·        On line ordering of prescriptions and booking of appointments

·        Electronic Prescription service

·        Communication and promotion of services

·        Daily Triage sessions

An action plan details the recommendations/priorities identified by the PPG/Practice.

North Trafford Group Practice is open Monday to Friday 8.00 – 18.30. 

Patients can make face-to-face appointments and telephone consultations by either telephoning or calling in to the practice to make an appointment.    The Practice has text messaging facilities to remind patients of their appointment, as well as providing health promotion messages.