Patient Reference Group

What is a Patient Reference Group (PRG)?

Do you want to have a say in the way your practice works? For the past 18 months, we have been based in a temporary accomodation following the fire at Gold Street site. We have had little control over factors like access, parking, etc. Now that we are moving to the new build we thought this would be a good opportunity to speak to our patients, gain their ideas and felt this is the right time to establish the Abbey Patient Reference Group(PRG) . A PRG would consist of a group of registered patients who are representative of our practice population at large. The meeting will be facilitated by our Practice Manager, Mr Mel Smith and one of the partners, Dr Rajat Srivastava. The group would meet regularly to discuss issues and ways of improving services for the benefit of patients.

What issues would a PRG look at?

A PRG could work with the practice on issues such as access to appointments, both same day and book ahead, but will also look at issues such as continuity of care, the range of skills available, mechanisms to access practices and geographical access. The issues to look at would be discussed and agreed between the PRG and the practice.

What then?

Once the priority areas were agreed, the practice would undertake and collate surveys, discuss the survey results with the PRG, agree the action plan with the PRG then publicise those actions on the practice website.

OK, I'm interested, what do I do?

Our first PRG meeting was a very good start with a good turn out. The group rules were set and issues discussed. 

The second meeting of the PRG is set for Tuesday, the 21st of February from 1.30pm to 2:30pm.  It is being held in our new premises at the Isebrook Hospital site. Refreshments will be provided. 

In order to best represent our patient population, we are looking for younger patients, including parents of young children and patients form ethnic minorities. Please get in touch with our practice manager if you are able to join. 

If you are one of our patients, and want a say in improving the service we give and want to take part in discussion and decision making, then please consider coming along to the meeting and joining our PRG. You will need to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it our practice manager, Mr Mel Smith in advance. 

I've heard about a virtual PRG. What's that?

Membership of the PRG is open to all currently registered patients of Abbey Medical Practice. However, some patients may be unable or unwilling to attend PRG meetings. It will  be possible to talk to, debate issues with, get consensus from, agree actions with members of the PRG without their need to attend face to face meetings, a so-called virtual PRG. Obviously the performance of the group would have to be monitored to ensure that it maintained the same standards as a normal PRG.

Our online group (virtual PRG)

We have set up  an online group  to invite people into or for people to join if they wish . Because our PRG is only open to registered patients, access to our group would be  restricted. Its activities, postings and online discussions will not be available on public listings on the internet. The group can be accessed here.