Patient Participation Group

The Acorn Group Practice Patient Participation Group “PPG” Terms of Reference

 Statement

The aim of the Acorn Group PPG is to make sure that the Practice puts the patient and improving health at the heart of everything it does.

Purpose and goals of the PPG

• To provide Patient/Carer feedback about the operation of the Practice and suggestions for improvements which being mutually agreed could be implemented.
• Providing an opportunity for Patients and Practice staff to share in decision making affecting the Practice.
• To allow Practice Staff via the PPG to give information on the running of a General Practice to the Patients of the Practice.
• The PPG will be involved in creating the priorities set by the Practice and the South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB).
• To help influence the local provision of health and social care.
• Ongoing communication with the patient population.

Membership of the PPG

• The PPG is open to all Patients/Carers of the Acorn Practice over sixteen years of age. There will be no upper limit on PPG membership numbers.
• Any member who fails to attend, or does not send apologies for not doing so, for three consecutive meetings will be deemed to have stepped down from membership of the PPG.
• Ideally members should represent the range of Patients registered with the Practice and efforts should be made to comply with this.
• The Practice will be represented at each meeting by: an Acorn Group Practice Partner, the Practice Manager, and/or one of the auxiliary health practitioners, or a member of the administrative team of the Practice. Others may be invited to contribute to specific agenda items.

Chairing

• A Chair will be elected from the membership. Only Patient/Carer members will be allowed to participate in the voting process, which will be by a show of hands. The Chair will serve a minimum of one year and may stand for re-election in the following and subsequent years. Elections will take place annually.
• A rotating chairmanship may be allowed if necessary to fill the post.

Frequency of Meetings and the Venue

• The Group will meet every two months at the Acorn Group Practice at a time convenient to the members. The meeting dates and times will be set once a year for twelve months.

Administration and Funding

• Administrative support will be provided by the Practice. Agendas and supporting papers will be sent to the members, preferably one week before the meeting. Requests for items to be submitted for consideration during a meeting should ideally be referred at least two weeks in advance.

Reporting and Accountability

• The Group’s Chair will report to the PPG and if necessary to the SWL ICB on Practice developments.

Quorum and Voting

• An attendance of seven, to include a minimum of five Patients/Carers and two Practice representatives, will be deemed quorate. Meetings can take place with fewer attendees, but decisions will not be made without a quorum.
• With the exception of the election to the Chair, preference will be given to consensus in decision-making. Where resolution is put to the vote, all members will be entitled to vote.

Settings of Priorities and Evaluation of Performance

• The Group will agree its priorities for the coming twelve months. It is recognized that ad hoc issues may be introduced for action.
• The priorities will be guided by issues identified by the Practice.
• The Group will assess its performance at the end of each year and its findings will be reported in the minutes. The evaluation will be carried out subject to informal arrangements instigated by the Group.
• The Group will annually review its Terms of Reference.

10th January 2023

Dates Reviewed:

• 13^th February 2024
• 16^th April 2025
• 10^th December 2025