Little Harwood Health Centre

Patient Participation Group

The latest meeting of the Patient Participation Group was held on 24th January 2012.

During the meeting, the achievements made within the Practice environment were outlined as below.

1) The Failed to Attend board has been resurrected to inform patients of the number of wasted appointments each month – and the implications of this.

2) The survey was extremely successful and 570 questionnaires were completed out of a possible 600 – ie 95%. This was helped by members of the Group being in the waiting room assisting patients to complete them.

3) Signs and barriers have been purchased to direct patients back from the window and contribute to greater patient confidentiality. Staff have also been actively teaching patients how to use the self-service check-in machine so that they don’t need to queue if attending for an appointment.

4) The information given on the notice boards has been taken on board by patients who were shocked to see the figures for ‘failed to attends’.

5) Appointments have been more readily available in recent weeks with more active feedback for cancellations and rearrangements.

6) Setting up the forum achieved a good mix of ages to represent the patients.

The next meeting will be held in May.