Patient Group Charter

Role of the Lonsdale Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG)

The role of the Lonsdale PPG is to promote and sustain co-operation between the Practice and patients to the benefit of both, acting as a “critical friend” – and fulfilling an official requirement.

Its aims and objectives are:

• To support and build a two-way relationship between patients and the Practice.
• To advise on the developments and the continual improvement of the Practice.
• To seek out and listen to the views of patients and their carers, especially those individuals and groups whose voices are not usually heard.
• To raise issues for consideration which are evidence-based, and which demonstrate that they are a matter of wider concern.

Meeting Ground Rules

1. Meetings of the Group are not forums for specific individual complaints.
2. The Group advocates open and honest communication and challenge between individuals.
3. The Group will be flexible, listen, ask for help and provide support.
4. The Group will demonstrate a commitment to delivering results.
5. All views are valid and will be listened to: they should be put through the Chair.
6. Participants in the Group will respect one another and behave accordingly – anyone who behaves rudely will be asked to leave.
7. No phones or other disruptions are permitted.
8. Minutes of each Group meeting will be kept, sent to the chair of the meeting concerned for checking and then circulated promptly.
9. Meetings will start and finish on time and stick to the agreed agenda