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PPG Volunteers. The Woodland Medical practice Patient Participation Group (WMP PPG) is run by a group of 10 volunteers who are registered with the Woodland Medical practice. In addition to the volunteers, the Practice Manager and one GP attends our quarterly meetings to ensure that decisions taken, actions agreed and information exchanged is in the best interests of our patients and implemented as quickly as possible. Recently a number of our members have had to stand down due to unforeseen circumstances, so we would like to invite anyone who is prepared to join us to make up the numbers (recently increased from 8 to 10) and work toward improving communication between the practice and Patients and ensure the services delivered truly meets the needs of our patients. If you are interested please, in the first instant, contact the Practice Manager on 0844 815 1999.

Feedback Should you have any ideas, suggestions or requests about the content of the “Woodland News” or the activities of your PPG, please use the facility on our new blog (address at the top of this news letter) or drop them off at the practice reception in writing please – F.A.O. Woodland Medical Practice PPG. Your name and contact details are of course optional.

Woodland Medical Practice Patient Participation Group Newsletter      

 Issue No. 9 – November/December 2011

In this issue:

The new Woodland Medical Practice Website, on-line appointments, opt-out form for summary care records, Christmas closing times, PPG and Practice staff activities, ‘Carers Connect’, and ‘Getting ready for Winter’.

  Did you know that the Woodland Practice has a new-look website with useful information about health issues such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, mental health, children’s illnesses, etc. and links to health charities, the PPG “Blog”, (we need your feedback!) as well as information about the practice, clinics, and staff 

Did you know that you can book appointments on-line by requesting a ‘login’ and ‘password’ from the receptionists.Or that you can cancel appointments by telephone without waiting and going through to ‘option 2’.

Did you know that to opt out of the Summary Care Record, you must fill in a form? (Ask for details at reception).      

Did you know that the Surgery will close for Christmas on Friday December 23^rd. at 6.30pm. and will re-open on Wednesday December 28^th at 8 am. It will close again for New Year on December 30^th at 6.30pm. and open again at 8am on Tuesday January 3^rd 2012.     

Did you know that your Patient Participation Group were busy raising money and awareness at the Birchwood Gala/football tournament in July with a book and bric-a-brac stall, where people were able to have their blood pressure taken by one of our GPs. They were also in evidence at the surgery on four Saturday mornings in October offering coffee, tea, and biscuits and PPG information to patients attending for flu jabs. £50 was raised to start a new fund for an air-conditioning unit for the waiting room. The Baby Blanket project continues. A total of 140 blankets have been made and distributed so far! 

  Did you know that the practice staff were involved in “Jeans for Genes” day on October 7^th  which raised £19.55 for children and families in the UK affected by generic disorders.                                                                                                                                           Did you know that there is a ‘first stop’ organisation for carers called “Carers Connect” which can put you (the carer) in touch with best people to help in difficult situations? Your GP can refer you, or you can contact them yourself at 01522 812830 or info@carersconnect.net 

    Have you thought about getting ready for Winter?   www.direct.gov.uk provides useful information to consider at this time of year. There are lists of things to do to protect your home, e.g.  checking that pipes are lagged, ordering heating fuel if needed, knowing where the stop tap is located, and knowing if you are entitled to grants and subsidies for heating and insulation; the ‘well-being’section includes flu jabs, preventing falls, having appliances serviced, etc.; tips for travelling suggests getting your vehicle ready for winter, keeping up to date on traffic and travel information, weather forecasts, etc. and having emergency kits and supplies in the car. The website also suggests being aware of your community and checking to see who may need help in bad weather, signing up for weather warnings on the Met office website, and getting free flood warnings if necessary.

Our group has been very happy to welcome 2 new members recently and hope there may be more joining us in the New Year. We were very encouraged by your responses at the flu clinics.

The Practice Staff and the Patient Participation Group wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Ed

Dear Patient,

We would like to know how we can improve our service to you and how you perceive our surgery and staff. 

To help us with this, we are setting up a virtual patient representation group so that you can have your say. We will ask the members of this representative group some questions from time to time, such as what you think about our opening times or the quality of the care or service you received. We will contact you via email and keep our surveys succinct so it shouldn’t take too much of your time.

We aim to gather around a hundred patients from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly representative sample. We need young people, workers, retirees, people with long term conditions and people from non-British ethnic groups.

If you are happy for us to contact you occasionally by email please click the link below to open the sign-up form and complete all the fields.

Complete the Patient Group Sign-up Form Online

If you prefer, you can download the sign up form as a pdf document, print it out, complete it and return it to the practice.

Download the pdf version of our sign up form

We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form. Please note that no medical information or questions will be responded to.

Many thanks for your assistance