News from the Patient Participation Group - June 2025

 

Our PPG meeting at the end of April was extremely well attended and produced a lively discussion with updates from the Practice and Steering Group.  

Once again, we were pleased to welcome new members.  

 

Update from the Practice

The process of digitising all paper medical records as part of a national NHS initiative is under way. This will improve ease of access to patient information for healthcare professionals, reduce the risk of lost or damaged records and free up valuable space within the Practice for improved patient care.

The two new clinical rooms which replace the old baby clinic are almost ready for use and new videos giving health information are now live on the waiting room screens.

 

Update from the PPG Steering Group (SG)

SG members continue to attend webinars and external meetings in order to keep up to date with relevant developments locally and nationally.  They are also in regular touch with the Practice concerning PPG matters and have recently been discussing the best ways of communicating with young people.  They also advise on patient communication in general, be it wording on the website or in text messages or information in the waiting area. Feedback from patients is valued and they encourage PPG members to submit agenda items for discussion at the quarterly group meetings.

 
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Young people

At their last meeting with the Practice, the SG advised on wording for text messages to be sent to patients turning sixteen, asking them to register their personal mobile phone number to be used for communications from the Practice. 

People aged 16 or over are presumed to have sufficient capacity to decide on, and consent to, their own treatment unless there’s significant evidence to suggest otherwise. The SG realises that young people do have different ways of accessing information from their parents and older generations e.g. social media. As part of the PPG’s core priorities of promoting health and wellbeing and improving communication, it is looking out for the best ways of reaching out to them.  Equally important is to hear their views on healthcare and ideas for changes they would like to see. With this in mind the Steering Group will be liaising with organisations which regularly connect with this age group such as the award- winning The Well Centre in Herne Hill, a free confidential health hub for 11 to 20 year olds. 

Young people worried about their mental, physical or sexual health, can contact The Well Centre directly or they can be referred by Paxton Green.  As well as face-to-face and telephone appointments on offer, there is a drop-in clinic on Mondays between 4 and 5.30pm.

See their website for more information or telephone 0208 473 1581.

Representatives from The Well Centre will be at the 2025 Youth Summit on July 9th at Lambeth Town Hall 5pm to 8pm. For information and free tickets to the event, visit here. 

Access to primary care (GP services) for Paxton Green patients going away to university will be covered in the September issue of the PPG newsletter.

 

Even Younger People

In Lambeth, Better Start Children’s Centres offer services for babies and children aged 0-4 and their families. These include ante-natal and post-natal care, baby clinics, groups to support breastfeeding and infant feeding, support around children’s diet and nutrition and speech and language therapy. They also provide family learning courses, parenting support groups and support around training and employment. To read more go to this website. 

For Southwark residents, the council runs Children and Family Centres which provide advice and support for parents and carers from pregnancy to when a child starts school. They provide a core set of services including high quality care and early learning services, advice on parenting, access to services such as speech therapy, managing money and healthy eating and help with finding work or training opportunities. Find out more here.

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Women’s health

As part of a programme to develop Women & Girls Health Hubs in South East London, four community health education sessions are planned to take place in Brixton and West Norwood starting in June.  All will include a presentation by a specialist/consultant, health checks and signposting to support.  The first on the Perimenopause and Menopause is scheduled for Tuesday 17th June, 12:30pm to 3:30pm, at Godwin Hall, Chatsworth Baptist Church, Chatsworth Way, SE27 9HN.  A further three sessions on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, Contraception & Sexual Health, and Pre-Conception will follow at later dates.  For more information visit here or pick up a leaflet at Reception.

We are fortunate at Paxton Green that clinicians are skilled in advising on all aspects of women’s health including Contraception, the Menopause and HRT. For details please visit here. 

 
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Older People

Age UK Lambeth’s walk-in advice service has moved to their head office at 10 Acre Lane, Brixton – Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 3pm.

And a team from Age UK will be on hand at the Lambeth County Show in Brockwell Park on 7th and 8th June to chat about the wide range of services it offers to support older people across the borough.  

 

How to Save a life

Over 30,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year in the UK. Less than one in ten currently survive, but effective CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can more than double a person's chances of doing so. Around 80% of these cardiac arrests happen at home, so we're more likely to need to give CPR to someone we know, like a friend or family member.

The British Heart Foundation’s free online tool teaches you CPR and how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes. It couldn't be simpler - you just need your mobile phone or tablet and a cushion to practise on. The tool will give you the confidence to step in and save a life in the ultimate medical emergency. For more information and to access the free training visit here.

 

Summer Health

The NHS UK website contains useful advice for adults and children on sun safety, both in the UK and abroad.  It includes the use of sunscreen, the wearing of appropriate clothing and eye protection and explains who is most at risk from sunburn, skin damage and skin cancer.  It also talks about how to cope in hot weather – tips for keeping cool in a heatwave, avoiding dehydration and recognising the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

 

Finally, the next meeting of the PPG is scheduled for Monday July 28th, 3.30pm to 5pm, both face-to-face and online.

To join the PPG, please enrol online or via Reception

Published: May 29, 2025