If you would like to register with the PPG, please view our Terms of Reference. 

Vision

Our vision is to be a critical, supportive friend, working closely with Parchmore Medical Centre, and it’s diverse, multi-cultural patient base & staff.

Helping our practice to provide patient care to rival any in the world and improving the health of our community.

Introduction

The Parchmore Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PMC-PPG) was setup in 2001 with the agreement and direction of the Practice Partners and Management.

In 2017 the PMC-PPG Terms of Reference (constitution) were agreed with the PMC partners & managers under the guidelines and requirements of:

The NHS New Guidance for GP practices April 2015

The PPG was established to provide an independent overview of services and facilities at the Parchmore Medical Centre.

As a patient of the practice, you are automatically a member of the PPG. There is a notice board in the main reception area which gives details of current activities. The Committee consists of up to 20 volunteer patients. Whilst the PPG is not a vehicle for clinical complaints it will:

• Receive reports about and comment on operational matters relating to Parchmore Medical Centre and make comments or suggestions about them.
• Be fully briefed about the NHS and practice policies and on delivery of services.
• Publish a patient newsletter.
• Help communication between the partners, staff and patients.
• Establish a committee of patient volunteers.
• Organise (with help from the practice) medical advice on major diseases by inviting specialist speakers, wide ranging healthcare advice events during the yearly Patients Participation Week in June and support an annual patient survey.

Major Successes

In 2017, after input from the PPG and agreement with the PMC a small project was started creating a: Social Prescribing and Community Development Programme (SP)

The first project was small, using support initially provided from community chest funds by a Thornton Heath Ward councillor. An over 50’s free group fitness exercise class started in mid-2017, proving very popular and successful within the local community.

SP has now expanded to cover many other activities, with additional funds from the NHS via the PMC practice, which has attracted national media attention (see Guardian article).

Between April 2018 – March 2019 there have been over 30,000 attendances to SP activities such as:

• Health and Wellbeing sessions
• Social Drop ins
• Arts, Activities and Dance
• Welfare and Support
• Diabetes Awareness
• Cancer and Wellbeing support

The benefits of Social Prescribing are many, it:

• Allows GP’s to provide targeted help in areas other than medical
• Measurably reduces both practice and hospital emergency visits, reducing pressure on GP’s.
• Helps to improve our community’s health, improves quality of life, fights loneliness, mental health issues and promotes social cohesion.
• Reduces costs to the NHS.
• Helps the local economy.

So impressive have been the results that the Parchmore Medical Centre has received awards and attracted press and BBC attention.

Local health and care hero chosen to represent London in NHS birthday awards

Brian Dickens, Group Operational Manager, Parchmore Medical Centre

The SP scheme is now being rolled out to include other practices in both Thornton Heath and the wider Croydon area.

PMC-PPG Objectives

We see our role as critical friends, making contribution to the continuous improvement of services, ensuring the practice provides a high level of care and to the wellbeing of patients. We assist by improving communication between the practice and its patients and help patients to take more responsibility for their health. We attend meetings to try to influence the wider NHS, most notably the decisions that are made on behalf of patients about the services that are available via the Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group. Others attend Health and Wellbeing Board meetings and we are available to the Care Quality Commission.

But, we are not a forum for individual complaints or single issue campaigns, our role is to ensure that there is the correct mechanism to access the practice complaints procedure. We provide practical support and help to implement change.

Being a member of the PPG brings a sense of ownership and inclusion, with a little effort it brings mutual understanding and respect on all sides.

If you are interested in helping, joining the committee or have any suggestions please register your interest by completing our Patient Participation Group Registration form.

Meeting with the Partners & Senior Management

The PPG Executive Committee consists of Chair, Vice-Chair, General Secretary, Secretary and 16 volunteers.

Chairman: Mukesh Patel General
Secretary: Mohan S Dhamrait OBE
Secretary: Mary Auguiste-Ernest

Meetings are held monthly (except for August and December) with a Partner and Senior Management Staff. The summary of the minutes is published here.