New volunteers are being sought by Burnham-On-Sea Medical Centre’s Patient Participation Group.
The group aims to provide feedback to the surgery on services and make suggestions for improvement.
The members all have a serious interest in voicing representative views while presenting positive, forward-thinking opinions and ideas.
Any patient aged over 16 who is registered with Burnham Medical Centre is eligible to apply to join the group.
There are nine patient members together with representation from the GPs and practice management in the group.
The surgery welcomes interest from patients who are interested in joining, however, there may be a wait to do so.
Mary Kelly, the group’s Chair, said: “We are a group of patients and surgery staff who meet at regular intervals, usually every eight weeks, to help decide just how we can make a positive contribution to our GP services and facilities.”
“We put views forward from any patient who contacts us. We never deal with complaints. We act as a critical friend to the practice and try to identify potential problems – we attempt to be an ‘early warning’.”
“Hopefully, we can help patients take more responsibility for their own health. We assist with some clinics, for example the annual flu clinic, we talk to patients about waste medicines, the cost of ordering items which are not required on the repeat prescription scheme. We help our practice to cover surveys and help promote these.”
She added: “Our role as PPG members is not ‘me’ focussed at all, our aim is to help other patients, our surgery GPs, nurses and so on and, of course, our National Health Service, to keep it in place for future generations. We hope shortly to open a Virtual Group/Internet Group through which patients can be asked for opinions etc on different topics.”
To get in contact and express interest, email them at PatientGroup@burnhammc.nhs.uk or write to Burnham Medical Centre, Love Lane, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1EU.
