Patient Group

BENTHAM SURGERY
Grasmere Drive
High Bentham
Lancaster
LA2 7JP

Open Monday-Friday
8.00am-6.30pm

Branch Surgeries

INGLETON
High Street
Monday-Friday
8:30am-12:00pm

WRAY
Village Institute
12:00pm Friday
No appointments

Telephone Enquires

Tel: 015242 61202
Fax 015242 62905

Repeat Prescriptions

Tel: 015242 42497
(24 hours/day)
or via
MyPractice Online

Surgery Closed

Tel: 015242 61202

Out of Hours services are provided by
Cumbria Health on Call

Website updated
10 November 2011

THE PRACTICE PATIENT REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

The aim of the practice Patient Participation Group is to promote good communication between patients and health care professionals in the surgery. It can, at different times, represent the patient population to the practice, and the practice to the wider community. The purpose, establishment and benefits of this type of group is described very well on the National Association for Patient Participation website:

to consult and plan with patients whenever possible on the facilities and provision of our practice services
to bring a sense of ownership and partnership between practice staff and patients
to give practice staff and patients the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest
to allow patients to make positive suggestions about the practice and their own healthcare
to develop self-help projects to meet the needs of fellow patients
to act as a representative group that can be called upon to influence the local provision of health and social care.

We are very enthusiastic about the group because we can see that it will be good for patients, practice staff and the community. It will be...

Members
Lorraine Crossley	Chair
Christine Hodson	Secretary
Dr Emma Harding	Practice
Jonathan Scott	Practice
Jill Noble	Practice
Claire Hucknall	LookingWell
Bronwyn Osbourne
Sharon Rucastle
Ian Woodburn
John Sanders
Pam Parkins
Helen Nott
Andres Tuohy
Jill Peel
Tony Hudson
Angela Robertson
Sue Butler

Good for patients because:

Patients will be consulted about arrangements for their primary healthcare before decisions are made.
Patients will benefit from improved communications with staff.
Patients will have a forum to suggest positive ideas and voice concerns.
Patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice and its staff.
Patients will be more responsible for their own health.

Good for practice staff because:

GPs and their staff will be able to plan services jointly with patients in order to increase their effectiveness.
They will be able to help patients with non-medical and social care issues.
They will be able to get help from patients in meeting targets and objectives.
They will have a forum to voice concerns, ideas and suggestions to patients.
They will get closer to the community for whom they care.

Good for the community because:

Patients will have an organisation through which they can identify their own needs.
Patients will be able to get an idea of what is needed to improve healthcare, and make sure that the patient view is always represented.
Patients will maintain an open dialogue with GPs and other healthcare professionals.
Patients will have an opportunity to become involved in other community initiatives such as their Local Involvement Network (LINk) and their Practice Based Commissioning organisation.