About the Patient Participation Group

Our Patient participation Group (PPG) consists of patients who are registered with the practice and who previously expressed an interest in becoming members of the PPG. 

Our core group currently consists of patients and two staff members, a GP partner who is acting as chair and our Patient Experience Manager. PPG members meet quarterly at the surgery, most of our members have no medical training, but have an interest in the services provided by the practice.

Bedlingtonshire Medical Group is always keen to hear from anyone who would like to join our patient participation group, to help make suggestions to develop and improve the services offered to patients, or anyone interested in being part of a virtual group where we would email patients from time to time for input in surveys. We would particularly like to hear from the young, ethnic groups and the disabled.

Please note personal/medical or individual patient complaints are not discussed. These should be dealt with outside the meetings following practice procedures.

Patients who wish to join the PPG can contact Joanne Hodge Patient Experience Manager Tel: 01670 822695 or signup via our online form.

 

Further information from the PPG

PPG Ground Rules

1. Confidentiality

We will tell you if something is confidential and we ask you not to share this information with anyone outside of the meeting.

2. Avoid personal references

As patient champions we think about the needs of the wider public.

3. Avoid assumptions

Base discussion on evidence and good practice.

4. Listen

Listen actively and attentively. Avoid interruptions.

5. Challenge

Critique ideas, not people.

6. Find solutions

Build on one another’s comments; work toward shared understanding.

7. Do not monopolize discussion

Give others a chance to speak.

8. It’s not a grumbling shop

Focus needs to be on improvement, not complaints.

9. Respect

Other people’s thoughts, ideas, and suggestions (even if you don’t agree with them).

10. Mobile phones

Please switch them off!

Terms of Reference

Title of the Group

The group shall be called The Bedlingtonshire Medical Group (BMG) Patient Participation Group (PPG).  

Purpose of the Group

To provide open and effective communications between the Practice and Patients to maintain high quality and responsive care.

Aims 

  • To promote a positive relationship between the surgery and patients.
  • To improve healthcare for patients through a joint approach. 
  • To collect feedback from patients about current health service provision.
  • To gain positive suggestions on how services could be improved.
  • To provide feedback on proposals for change. 
  • To act as a representative group for all patient groups including patients with specific illnesses, disabilities, and minority ethnic groups.
  • To review patient feedback annually as part of a Practice-led patient survey.
  • To enable patients to influence local health care services where appropriate.

Meetings

The group will endeavour to meet four times a year, with a minimum core group of 3 members. Additional meetings may be held to discuss issues. A meeting may be cancelled where a core group cannot be assembled or there are few or no items for the agenda.

Meetings will be held at the Bedlingtonshire Medical Group Surgery.

The group has an appointed Chair, and a secretary, who are appointed annually by the Group.

Notice of meetings, minutes and information relating to the PPG will be displayed on appropriate notice boards in the surgery waiting room and on the BMG website. Members will be contacted by email or through the post when necessary. 

Membership

Membership shall be open to all registered Patients and staff of Bedlingtonshire Medical Group, however there will be a maximum of 20 members. Efforts will be made to ensure a spread of membership in terms of age, gender, and minority groups. Patients who would like to join the group should contact the Patient Experience Manager.

Code of conduct

  • Listen to and respect one another’s views – all views are valid and will be listened to.
  • Turn mobile phones off or switch to silent.
  • Make criticism constructive.
  • If a member is unable to attend a meeting, they should offer their apologies ahead of the meeting.
  • Members will agree to treat items discussed as confidential where appropriate.
  • Meetings will start and finish on time.
  • The Bedlingtonshire Medical Group Patient Participation Group is not a forum for individuals to resolve personnel complaints or single issues, such matters should be raised and addressed using the Practice Complaints Policy.

Confidentiality

The names of group members and others attending meetings will be included within summaries unless requested otherwise.

The provisions of GDPR Act 2018 (Data Protection) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will apply to all dealings of Patient Participation Group.

  • These terms of reference were adopted on: 20th October 2015
  • Review date: 3rd September 2025

 Agree to Terms of reference for Bedlingtonshire Medical Group code of conduct to become a member of Bedlingtonshire Medical Group PPG 

Previous Meeting Minutes

Wednesday 4th June 2025

 

Latest Meeting Minutes

Wednesday 3rd September 2025 at 5.00pm

Welcome Everyone

Introduction of new members: (John Leightley)

Members of the Group introduced themselves and a warm welcome was extended to John Leightley who was attending his first meeting.

Attendees

Dr Alford (Chair). Joanne Hodge David Payne, John Shiel, John Leightley, Heather Walker, Russ Wallace, Graham Smith, Sally Fox. 

Apologies

Mike Trimming, David Armstrong, Susan Weedy, Peter Rand

Acceptance of previous minutes

Accepted.

Matters arising from previous Minutes

Mike undertook to raise the issue with the Chair of the Town Council to see if accommodation could be provided within the Community Centre, for Jules Darling DWP. Mike is still waiting to hear back from Christine Taylor County councillor and chair of West Bedlington Council over the provision of a room for Jules at the community centre. She has written back to say she is still looking to procure funding and hopefully will be able to report more positively very soon.

Resignation/Acknowledgement of Vice /chairman 

Dr Alford informed the members of the resignation of Vice Chair Eddie Kingston and thanked him for his help within the group during his time as Vice Chair. 

Susan Weedy has also informed us she is unfortunately resigning from the group and asked to pass on that she has enjoyed being part of the group, and extremely proud of our surgery team for all that they do and what they have achieved and continue to do so during times of significant pressure and change. Please inform the group my thanks for being part. We would like to thank Susan for her help within the group during her time as a PPG member.

Terms of Reference

Joanne informed members that the Term of reference is due to be renewed and signed as a group, the terms of reference was passed to all members.  Mr Payne requested the terms of reference to be emailed for further reading. All other Members were happy for the Terms to be signed. It was agreed a copy of the terms of reference would be sent to all members. Joanne to email to all members.

Community Links (Graham Smith)

The surgery was able to accommodate a room for the health checks, but unfortunately, they have not taken off only had 2 to 3 patients for no apparent reason, Graham still has contact with the patients every 2 weeks and hopes moving forward the numbers will improve. The adult lego group is well attended, held at Bedlington Library every Wednesday 1pm to 3 pm. Walk and Talk group leaves the library at 10am on a Thursday with a mixed group. The Manly chatter group runs every 2 weeks from 4th June 1pm to 2.30pm held at Bedlington Community Centre. Thursday club is held Every Thursday 1pm to 3pm at Bedlington community Centre. Graham informed Dr Alford, community Links that numbers for health trainer referrals for exercise on referral are low for BMG, just a reminder that these can be passed onto Community Links. Dr Alford will advise clinical staff.

Practice update: (Dr Alford/Joanne)

Dr Alford updated the members of current clinical staffing, Dr Hansini has now returned from maternity leave, we currently have 2 very experienced GP Registrars who are still in training, which is coming to an end.  Dr Sheth who has been here as a locum during Dr Hansini's maternity leave, is going to continue working with us. We also have a new advanced Nurse Practitioner Julie Lambert. Joanne updated members of current situation with admin staff, 2 members of staff have just completed their apprentice training and have been given full time positions within the surgery. We also employed 2 full-time members of staff, due to several members of staff retiring. The staffing situation has at times been stretched due to holidays and sickness during July and August. Dr Alford explained we have been doing well in recruit, the surgery has a GP budget to spend and must look at the best economy/balance for staffing, to manage the monthly income. 

Mr Shiel mentioned he is having problems when trying to book appointments as he does not always have signal and feels the system does not work for him, Dr Alford explained how the triage system is managed and that he can ring and ask for help with regards to making appointments. Joanne mentioned that there had been an alert added to the record, since the last meeting and would check this. 

Mr Payne added he had problems with his link which did not show any availability of appointments. Dr Alford and Joanne explained that the link lasts for 7 days, and the appointments are uploaded regularly throughout the day, this enables you to check regularly for available appointments Dr Alford advised that if you have any problems with links, you can always ring the surgery and the staff will help. Mr Leightley informed he had a problem with his link, contacted the surgery, the staff booked an appointment and was seen soon after.                                                                                                                   

Systmonline Update

Joanne informed members that we continue to have positive and negative feedback towards SystmConnect, the surgery has recently done a SystmConnect survey in July, every patient who had an appointment was sent a link to fill in the survey, results reflected patients were generally finding the system easy to use, the practice are looking at recommendations to help patients who are still finding difficulty using the system. The survey results were passed around the table.

Friends and Family – update

Joanne informed the surgery had a good response for August, 4 patients had commented on difficulty using the system, as these are anonymous, we can only respond on the feedback form which is displayed on the notice board in the waiting room, to ask patients to let us know of any difficulties, to enable us to help with any issues. The feedback forms were passed around the table. Sally Fox informed that data is collected from all surgeries in the PCN and Bedlington have the highest data and positive feedback 

PCN update (Sally Fox PCN Manager)

Sally informed The NAPP registration was still in discussion, although 1 practice does not have a PPG and the other two do not use NAPP, therefore it is unlikely that they will fund this for one practice, will update if anything further. Heather Walker asked what the PCN stood for, Sally in formed, Primary Care Network. Which covers four practices, BMG, Gables, Guidepost and Seaton Park Medical Group which is 46,800 patients across the practices, Mangers and GPs from practices meet once a month to discuss government policies that may be impacting various NHS services. There are shared roles, such as mental health workers, dieticians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and Community link workers, to take the load off practices, there is the question of funding continuing, although can't see this being pulled as practices rely on these roles.   

Nominations/ Discussion Re: Chair, Vice Chair Secretary

Dr Alford informed he was happy to continue as chair of the Group and asked if anyone would like to take on the roles of Vice chair – there were no nominations for vice chair, therefore it was agreed that Dr Alford would continue as Chair for the PPG and the group would no longer have a vice chair role, this can be reviewed in one year. Mike Trimming in his absence informed he is happy to continue in the role as secretary. There were no nominations put forward for secretarial role and all members are happy for Mike Trimming to continue with the role. 

Any Other Business

Dr Alford asked the group if they had any ideas they would like to put forward  that we could work on that they think would help or benefit the surgery, , Joanne added she had looked at other PPG groups who arrange speakers to come in for example to discuss asthma, diabetes etc, we could try to accommodate this as we do the PPG meetings on a Wednesday evening. Heather Walker spoke with Joanne and would be interested in looking into this.

 Joanne informed the group that the flu clinics will be starting 1st 2nd and 3rd of October and any volunteers would be grateful for signposting patients. David Payne said he would check his diary to see if he would be available, Joanne will pass on times that would be required.

Joanne informed there is now a registration pack for new members, as the group are starting with the renewal of terms of reference and new roles within the group are all members happy to sign as members of the group. All present happy to receive and sign.  New members pack to be attached with minutes and terms of reference.  

Date & Time of next meeting

Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 5.00pm

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