News from the Patient Participation Group - March 2025

At Paxton Green we are lucky to have an active Patient Participation Group (PPG). Our quarterly meetings are regularly attended not only by our members (any patients registered at the Practice are welcome to enrol), but also by one or two GP partners and the Assistant Practice Manager. And in between meetings, the PPG Steering Group continues to work with a number of Practice staff in order to represent the patient perspective. It also attends external meetings to keep up to date with what is going on locally and nationally in health care.

One of the main topics at our January PPG meeting was Continuity of Care. This can be defined as being able to see or speak to the same clinicians involved in our care to enable a more co-ordinated follow up.

Continuity of care can result in better health outcomes, consistency of care, avoidance of over investigation, reduction in medicines use and greater patient satisfaction. To support this, follow up plans are noted in our records, but wherever possible patients are encouraged to follow up with the same doctor. Of course, the latter can sometimes depend on current appointment availability, but perhaps if you cannot get an appointment with your preferred doctor, this could be an opportunity to get to know another. And there are daily clinical meetings where cases are discussed by the Practice team. In addition, the administration team will direct incoming letters and prescription requests to the most appropriate clinician.

Prostate Cancer and the PSA Test

In the light of recent media coverage, this topic was raised by a PPG member at the January meeting. Dr Miller responded as follows:

Men under 50 who are in high risk groups (e.g. family history of prostate cancer or racial origin) should be considered, especially if they have lower urinary tract symptoms, haematuria or erectile dysfunction.

In all cases, patients should discuss their request with a GP first

Cancer Screening Awareness Event

A Cancer Screening Awareness Event where you can speak to outreach teams from Prostate Cancer UK, Ovacome, Breast Screening, Targeted Lung Health Service, Lambeth Smoking Cessation, Don’t let Cancer Win, St Christopher’s Hospice, Age UK, Bowel Screening, Cervical Screening is taking place on Tuesday March 11th, 12.30pm to 3.30pm at Chatsworth Baptist Church, Chatsworth Way, Norwood, SE27 9HN

Building a Health Service Fit for the Future 

One of the external meetings attended by the PPG Steering Group was a webinar organised by the NHS SE London Integrated Care System. The webinar was open to the public and sought views from those attending on Building a Health Service Fit for the Future, including making better use of technology, moving care from hospital to community and preventing sickness, not simply treating it.

There is still an opportunity to express your views by completing a survey

The need for more donors has never been greater, and blood supplies from groups O negative (the universal blood group) and B negative are particularly vulnerable to shortfalls. So, the NHS needs people with those blood groups to donate as regularly as they can.

London has the highest number of Sickle Cell patients in the UK, a condition that disproportionately affects individuals of Black Caribbean and Black African heritage. To meet the needs of these patients, over 12,000 additional blood donors of Black heritage and 250 blood donations are needed per day.

The Brixton Blood Donor Centre is located at 444 Brixton Road, London, SW9 8BH. It’s quick and easy to book an appointment to give blood at this centre.

Give blood

• 0300 123 23 23
• NHS Blood Donation

The Herbert Protocol for people living with Dementia

Dementia is the collective term used for a group of specific brain conditions that gradually reduce a person’s cognitive abilities. These conditions can affect memory, thinking, and behaviour.

Every year, at least 40,000+ people living with dementia are reported missing for the first time.

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme to help make sure that people living with dementia who are at risk of becoming lost can be found and brought home safely. Police forces and emergency services across England and Wales use the Herbert Protocol as a kind and proactive way to help when someone with dementia is reported missing.

The charity, Medic Alert UK, offers a digital document storage for the Herbert Protocol form. It works directly with several police forces and paramedic groups to provide direct access to this information in an emergency.

Creating an online Herbert Protocol is simple. Create a profile and complete a form which will include information such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located and a recent photograph. Then if your loved one goes missing, you can call the Police on 999 without delay and say that you have the Herbert Protocol. You can manage and update the form at any time with ease.

There is no need to print the form as the police and emergencies services will have online access, but can do so if you wish to keep a hard copy.

Covid-19 vaccination programme for spring 2025

The vaccine will be offered to people aged 75 years and older. The Practice will be contacting eligible patients in due course.

Paxton Green Spring bank holidays

• Good Friday 18th April - closed
• Saturday 19th April – closed except for booked appointments
• Easter Sunday 20th April - closed
• Easter Monday 21st April - closed

It will also be closed for the May Bank Holidays on Monday 5th May and Monday 26th May.

Published: Feb 26, 2025