Click here to see the 2012 questionnaire

Click here to see the results

Click here to see the 2011 survey

The Ferry Road Health Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG) was formed in August 2000. 

It was decided that as the existing Patient Participation Group is extremely pro-active the surgery would use them for the Patient Participation Directed Enhanced Service (DES) instead of developing another Patient Reference Group or virtual Patient Participation Group.

The current PPG is not reflective or representative of the practice population, this is despite active efforts to encourage new members.

The PPG has nine members (1 male and eight females). All members of the group are white.

PPG Age profile

1 member 1 member 5 members 1 member

55-65 years 65-70 years 71-75 years 76+

Surgery Age profile

U18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 Over 55

19% 5% 10% 12% 14% 40%

The Practice and PPG have endeavoured to attract new members and have targeted specific patients in under represented groups by personally inviting patients, sending e-mails and displaying posters. Despite patients expressing an interest, no one has actually attended a meeting. All new patients joining the practice are given information about the PPG and how they can join in their new patient pack and letter.

The surgery opening times are:
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 6:00pm
The surgery also offers extended opening on Saturday morning with appointments starting at 8:00a.m.

Surgery staff met with the PPG to discuss how the survey would run and priorities set as to what questions should be included in the local practice survey.

The survey was conducted over a week long period in January. A Receptionist was also on hand to distribute the survey and to answer any questions.

160 questionnaires were completed – representing 5% of the practice list size.

Ages of patients completing the questionnaire were:

Under 25 25-45 46-64 65-84 85 and over

4% 21% 22% 45% 8%

Ethnicity of patients completing questionnaire:

British Mixed British Did not say

93% 5% 2%

The Practice analysed the survey to pinpoint areas where we did well, to see where improvements might be needed and to see if patient’s expectations were being met.
A summary of the results can be seen here.

A meeting was held between the GPs, surgery staff and representatives of the PPG on Wednesday 27th January 2013.

It was felt that there is very little to be addressed and both the GPs and the PPG representatives said they were pleased that there were no real areas of concern. The PPG members commented that they thought the number of patients reporting difficulty in contacting the practice by telephone would have been higher as this is a problem often highlighted at PPG meetings and Health Talks.

The PPG also expressed their concerns that the question regarding how long, when telephoning the surgery, patients had waited to speak to a Receptionist may have been confusing. The Practice confirmed that a member of staff had been on hand and had explained questions to patients.

•	The Practice has agreed to monitor incoming telephone call times to see if it would be beneficial to employ extra staff during peak times.
•	The PPG to liaise with the Practice staff and to organise a notice board signposting different treatment options and services.