Patient Participation Group

The KERS PPG was set up in 1991 as a groundbreaking innovation to:

• Support the Doctors, Practice Nurses and staff
• To highlight patients priorities and issues to the Practice Team
• To discuss proposed changes to the way the Practice operates
• To review issues raised by the Patient Surveys, which are carried out nationally and within the Practice, to ensure continuous improvement
• To provide for the exchange of information and ideas between Patients and the Practice Team
• To arrange “Meet The Doctor” sessions focusing on specific health issues

 In 2006 we were awarded “PPG of the Year” by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and a member of the PPG has addressed meetings at the Royal College of General Practitioners Conferences twice in the last four years and we remain, therefore, in the forefront of National PPGs.

September 2025

• Minutes of Previous Meeting – July 2025, agreed.
• We did revisit a number of items on the minutes in the meeting today or go into more depth, so added again to the minutes of today’s meeting.
• We discussed the Voting for new PPG Chair and Vice Chair.  No one has come forward as yet; these are the responsibilities:
• We discussed the role of the PPG Chair role, JE explaining some of the areas of responsibility that the chair has
• Input into the PPG Agenda
• Speaking with the PM for any issues that may arise between meetings, PM to highlight any updates or information between meetings if needed.
• If there is an Inspection such as CQC they may ask to speak with the PPG Chairman.
• If the Practice is to receive a CQC Inspection, the Chair helps with organising PPG members to come in and support with patient survey’s, updating patients on information regarding the practice services etc.
• Felicity was voted as Vice Chair.
• Linda, Lead Practice Nurse came to give a talk on FeNO machine, this is summarised below
• FeNO Machine
• We asked the PPG to support the Practice in the purchase of a FeNO Machine which helps diagnose Asthma patients.  A FeNO Machine is used to carry out a FeNO test,
• FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) is a test that measures the levels of nitric oxide in your breath. 
• A high level of nitric oxide when you breathe out can be a sign that you have inflamed airways and could be a sign that the patient has asthma.
• A FeNO test is suitable for adults and most children over five. 
• We are unable to offer a spirometry test as there is no service available to refer users to, the FeNO machine would help our patients be diagnosed.
• PPG Agreed to give £1000 towards the funding for FeNO Machine – as the machine is so expensive this will go toward the 2-year lease
• The book sale has currently raised £379.00, and it has been agreed that this money would also go towards the FeNO Machine.
• Carers Silver Award – Big Thank you to Christine, the team and especially the PPG members in helping the Practice secure our Silver Carers award.  We can now move onto Gold and Gold Plus awards with Working with Northamptonshire Carers.
• A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
• A Young Carer is anyone under the age of 18 who looks after or carers for a family member, or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid. 
• Young Carers often provide support to parents or siblings -they are entitled to have a Young Carer’s assessment to identify the carer that is being given and how it is impacting the Carers education, training, leisure opportunities and their view of the future.  The assessment will identify what support is needed and what services can be offered to help.
• National Patient Survey – We discussed the National Survey results from 2024, however, the results for 2025 had now been released and we discussed these and the overall low return rate for the survey by patients.   
• The Survey is sent out during January to March to a random selection of patients who have attended the Practice in the preceding 12 months.  It can be returned as either a paper survey or completed online.
• This year’s results were generally positive and showed patients have a positive view of the practice, how their health is managed, and the team and how they are treated.  The survey this year covered a period of transition where the telephone system was moved to the new Cloud Based service and the introduction of the online triage system, which is reflected in some of the results.
• Action:  We need to inform the patient at the time of the year that these come out how important these are to be completed.
• RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) Vaccine Discussion – The RSV vaccine helps protect against infection with RSV, a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. It’s offered on the NHS if you’re pregnant, aged 75 to 79, or turned 80 after 1 September 2024.
• Unlike some vaccines (such as flu or COVID-19 vaccines), the RSV vaccine is given all year round and older adults only need 1 dose, which should protect them for several years.
• Nadine New Role – Nadine our Prescription Clerk has been successful in gaining the role of Health Care Assistant, starting next month with training.  Then from that Nadine is going to be a training to be a Nurse Associate, which means she will be able to do treatment room nurse duties such as Smears, Dressings, ECG’s and the course is 2 years
• Respect Completion – Ann asked to clarify how these are completed as her last conversation about the respect form was done via the telephone.  I said I would check with the GPs.
• Update following discussion with GPs – the Respect/Do not resuscitate form is triaged by a GP Partner who decides if a Face to Face appointment is required or if this can be completed over the phone.  Any subsequent conversations regarding the form can be carried out as a telephone call.  If the GP Partner has decided that it can be completed over the phone, this is due to the GP Partner being happy with the understanding of the patient, if there are any concerns the GP or the patient can request a Face to Face appointment.
• Research Project in the Practice – Research in the Practice was discussed and we will have a presentation at the next PPG meeting as the Practice has been award stage 1 research status.
• Date of next Meeting at 11am on Tuesday 11^th November 2025
• Items to discuss at the next meeting – November 2025
• Chairperson role
• Presentation Clinical Studies Development Officer – East Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network | NIHR Research
• Abbreviations
• PCN – Primary Care Network
• PM – Practice Manager
• PPG – Patient Participation Group
• RCGP – Royal College of GPs
• RSV – Respiratory syncytial virus