Translate

Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) meet every 2 months to provide a forum for discussion about the practice.

About our Patient Participation Group

The PPG meet 2 monthly and hold an Annual General Meeting, which normally occurs in May. Membership is for three years renewable. The Chair is currently Sue Lake who has many years’ experience working within the NHS.

The group comprises the Practice Manager and patients with a broad range of life and work experiences, reflecting many of the diverse needs of the Practice. We aim to develop a positive and constructive relationship between patients, the Practice and the community it serves.

By developing and improving communications between patients and the Practice, the Group provides an avenue for patients’ input into the way facilities and services are planned and executed and to influence those services to better support patient needs.

We provide constructive feedback on patient and community needs, concerns and interests, and support by collecting patient opinions and experiences to help the practice to evaluate its services. The Group has also organised educational events for patients and helped with surveys of patients' satisfaction.

There are no membership requirements except that members must be patients registered with the practice. PPG members should as far as possible, be representative of the practice population and include people from different genders, ages, ethnicities, disabilities and health needs. Membership of the Core Group is limited to 9.

Latest Meeting Minutes

Date: Tuesday 4 November 2025 started at 1pm ended at 2pm
Location: Norman Centre, Public Hall
Present: David Forward (DF); Robert Harland (RH); Sue Lake (SL); Debbie Mitchell (DM); Lynette Oram (LO); Liz Plaatsman (LP); Jacqui Ruhlig (JR); Judy Walker (JW); Brian Taylor (BJT)
Absent: Peter Frean (PF); Chris Kitson (CK); Mark McGlade (MM); Julia Vaughan Smith (JVS)

1. Welcome and Apologies

Apologies received from PF, CK, MM and JVS.

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting (9 September 2025) have been circulated to all members and agreed to be a true account of proceedings. SL gave an update regarding an action to contact EDDC requesting a member of the Home Safeguard to attend a PPG meeting, no agreed date at present. SL will try again but in a previous response she has advised EDDC that they would not provide patient details regarding the concerns raised. This is in line with the MCs confidentiality policy, the PPG do not share patient details.

3. Practice Update

Paul Ferns, Paramedic, will be starting at the practice on 15/10/2025. He has worked with SWAST and then more recently WEB PCN. He will work alongside the duty team and will be providing acute clinics and home visiting. He in interested in palliative care and will support the doctors with EOL patient care.

Laura will be moving from her administrator role to the GP Assistant role and will also be supporting the duty doctor. This is a fairly new role to general practice, created by PCNs. Laura will be attending the GP Assistant training programme and we hope her role will evolve over time. Essentially, she will be doing a hybrid role of administration and health care assistant with training planned for BP taking, ECGs and phlebotomy.

Tommy will sadly be leaving our practice on 05/11/2025 for pastures new.

The practice is currently advertising for 2 administrators. The induction period is three months and the role is quite challenging, particularly when the wage can be lower than some supermarkets.

RH asked how the practice let patients know when GPs start/leave. DM advised this was through the newsletter, website, foyer photograph, facebook and Instagram. Additionally, when Dr Davis retired, those patients with a mobile, were sent an SMS.

BJT discussed the NHS 10-Year Health Plan for a "GP neighbourhood" which is a plan to shift healthcare from hospitals into local communities, with GPs and multidisciplinary teams working from Neighbourhood Health Centres to provide more accessible, integrated, and preventative care. The details of this plan are not yet known, but GP practices have been asked to sign up to them. WEB PCN has signed up in readiness.

Cornwall is one of 43 areas nationally chosen to be a "test site" for the plan's implementation. Devon is not part of this group.

Eligible patients for the COVID vaccination are those aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026); are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health

condition or treatment. NHS England set out the eligibility of the population – it is not decided by GPs. Patients are able to request this privately through their pharmacy for a fee.

4. Friends and Family test update

LP reported on the last 3 months, August to October 2025. There were some comments as below:

Patient comment: Comment from one patient that he/she wasn’t aware Dr. Davis had retired and would have liked to have been informed prior to the appointment.

Practice comment: Publicity for Doctors retirement was in the Newsletter, on the practice website. SMS to those patients of Dr Davies (where mobiles were registered); Facebook site

Patient comment: Knowledge of dietary advice for High Blood glucose. Comment from a patient that at his/ her appointment with the GP he/she was surprised of the lack of knowledge of the work by Professor Taylor in Newcastle.

Practice comment: Dietary advice for patients with High Blood glucose will be discussed with the practice nurse. BJT advised that this will often be signposting to the most appropriate correct diet.

Patient comment: Choice of GP

Practice comment: Where possible the patient will have an appointment with the GP they have been seeing.

However, if the appointment is acute they will be seen by next available GP.

Patient comment: Results of Blood Tests. Patient commented they would have liked to have a phone call from the practice with the results.

Practice comment: Patients are now given a leaflet at the time of the blood test explaining how to review their results and also see the GP comment. No practice would telephone patients with results except in exceptional circumstances.

LO suggested that PPG members promote the NHS App so patients can review their blood tests. She has recently successfully shown 2 patients how to use this app.

Patient comment: Patients commented that their query was referred to the Pharmacist who then referred the patient back to the GP.

Practice comment: There is a strict process for referral to the Pharmacist then onto the GP is they are unable to answer the query.

BJT advised that the practice had had a meeting with Lewis Pharmacy and Clarepharm this morning and they had confirmed that they are continuing to accept minor illness referrals and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

LP advised that as is usual, the vast majority of the comments are very complimentary on all contact with all the staff in our Medical Practice. Thank you to the Practice Manager for giving us constructive feedback on the few concerns patients have expressed

5. PPG Member Feedback

LO and JW attended a local event on “Loneliness” and represented the PPG.

Some statistics regarding loneliness locally are:

400 chronic lonely people
Each of these individuals will cost £9,000 in social funds
There has been a 60% reduction in isolation through visiting Seachange

LO suggested a talk on foot health and oral health as neglect in either of these can lead to bad health.

BJT advised that WEB PCN has 4 social prescribers which work with our 5 practices. This includes Kate Harrison who previously worked at Seachange and has good links with the charity.

6. Winter Newsletter

It was agreed the next one would be in the New Year.

7. Patient Talk

07/10/2025 at Seachange. Palpitations and Dizzy Spells / Blackouts, by Dr Ben Dyer, Consultant Cardiologist and Dr Steve Podd, Consultation Cardiologist. This was well attended and was received well by patients.

SL will liaise with Karen McMillan, Exeter Nuffield Hospital, to discuss further talks iin 2026.

8. Any Other Business

The following was discussed:

A discussion was had around using the acronym “PPG” and whether or not patients understand what this stood for. It was suggested that “Patient Group” could be used instead when talking with patients. To be discussed and agreed at the next meeting. Please send suggestion to SL.
DM has advised that while commonly known as a "Patient Participation Group," the specific name is not mandated by statute. The NHS contract simply requires providers to "establish and maintain a group to obtain the views of patients".

8. Next meeting:

Tuesday 13 January 2026.

Further Information

Latest Newsletter

See our latest newsletter

Committee Members

Chair Person

Sue Lake

Vice Chair Person

David Forward

Members

Peter Frean
Robert Harland
Chris Kitson
Mark McGlade
Deborah Mitchell (Secretary, Practice Manager)
Lynette Oram
Liz Plaatsman
Jacqui Ruhlig
Julia Vaughan-Smith
Judy Wright

Contact the PPG

Patient Participation Group
Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre
1 The Lawn
Budleigh Salterton
Devon
EX9 6LS

Patient Group post-box in the Medical Centre.

Constitution - March 2023

Name: The name of the group shall be Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre Patient Group (The Group)
Association: The Group will maintain regular communications with both local and national organisations as appropriate.

Objectives of the Patient Group

1. Communication

Members of The Group should act as a two-way communication channel between the Practice and the community in order to help patients use facilities to the best advantage and the Practice to implement policies influenced by representative patient views. The Group is not a complaints processing organisation.

The Group may from time-to-time conduct surveys in conjunction with the Practice.
The Group will produce a regular newsletter to keep patients informed and made aware of health news concerning patients and the Practice
The Group will encourage patients to put ideas and questions to the Practice and for the Practice to respond in a reasonable manner

2. Community 'Needs'

The Group will have a role in assisting in any assessment of community ‘needs’ to help the Practice improve its service.
The Group will develop and promote ways for patients to help one another in times of medical need and to develop a community spirit amongst patients.
The Group will actively assist the Practice and the Woodbury, Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton (WEB) locality commissioning group to assess patient needs in the community so as to ensure that appropriate resources may be applied locally to changing needs and requirements.
When appropriate the Group may be informed of general practice policies relating to the Locality Integrated Care System (ICS) to which the Practice belongs. If required the Group will express opinions on these policies on behalf of the patients.

3. Health Education

The Group will work with the Practice to encourage health education needs in the community in order for the Practice to provide appropriate and useful community health education meetings.
The Group will help patients become more informed and educated about their health and healthcare, by providing means for the effective dissemination of health and care information of all kinds.

4. Membership

Election to the group shall be open and free to all patients and staff of the Practice, and upon request they will be supplied with a copy of these election rules and Constitution.

5. Annual General Meeting (AGM)

A meeting open to all patients shall be held annually. Notice of the day, time and place will be given via the local press, notice boards and Practice Newsletter. At least fourteen days’ notice of the meeting and venue will be given.
The Committee chair or his/her appropriate substitute shall present at each AGM a report on the activities of the Group and its own proceedings during the previous year with a statement of accounts (if applicable) and proposed future plans and developments and will conduct an election to fill the vacancies on the Group’s committee. If there are more than three nominations a paper ballot will be held for Practice patients in attendance.

Constitution and conduct of the committee

The business of the Group will be conducted by a committee of elected and co-opted members and non-voting representatives of the practice including whenever possible a partnership doctor.
The committee will comprise a maximum of 13 and no less than 6 members who shall be patients of the practice, at least two of whom shall be non-residents of Budleigh Salterton and shall be appointed by nomination to and election by the patients present at the annual meeting of the patients of the practice. In the event that not all nine members are appointed at the AGM, the Committee may co-opt additional members at the earliest convenience.
An elected member shall serve for three years and to ensure the continuity of the committee three of the members will be elected each year to the vacancies caused by the time limit.
The committee may co-opt additional members for specific purposes or to fill a vacancy.
A quorum for decisions at a meeting shall consist of four voting members plus one of the officers.
The Committee shall meet at least four times a year and be responsible for organising and calling the AGM of patients.
At the first meeting of the Committee after the patients’ AGM they shall appoint a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and a Secretary for the ensuing year. The Secretary may or may not be an elected member of the committee.