This January, the Oakham Medical Practice (OMP) Patient Participation Group have released their first newsletter since 2015.

The Oakham Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG) announced their return in July 2022, following an Inadequate rating awarded to OMP by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A Patient Participation Group is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to help improve the service.

A spokesperson for the PPG said: "Since April 2015, it has been a contractual requirement of NHS England for all GP practices to have a PPG and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.

"It seems that the staff at OMP are prepared to sit down with us and move this group forward, to both help improve their service, but also to keep patients abreast of changes to GP provision, not just locally but nationally."

Since regrouping, the PPG have worked with the practice users to communicate issues, as well as tackle and share any changes being made to the practice.

They have, this January 2023, released their first newsletter.

The Newsletter reads:

Who does what and why?

Oakham Medical Practice, like all UK GP Surgeries, looks after you by offering appointments with a range of clinical professionals. This means you'll be provided with timely advice, treatment and good outcomes.

But who are these clinicians? Why might they be the best person to see you? You can be reassured that all members of the clinical team work closely together. A GP is available during your appointment with a team member if the clinician feels it is necessary.

General Practitioner (GP) Partners and Salaried Doctors

These doctors are Specialists in General Medical Practice. The partners have additional responsibilities for running the practice.

General Practitioner (GP) Registrars

GP Registrars are qualified doctors. They have experience of working in hospital and have chosen to specialise as GPs. They will be in their first, second or third year of specialist GP training. The GPs in the practice mentor the GP Registrars, working closely with them every session.

Advanced Practitioners

Advanced (nurse) practitioners are registered nurses or paramedics with extra training and academic qualifications. They can examine, assess, make diagnoses, treat, prescribe and make referrals for patients with undiagnosed problems. They are trained in complex decision making and they work closely with the GPs who are available to answer queries or see a patient if necessary.

Practice Nurses

Practice nurses have a nursing qualification and have a variety of primary care roles. These include long term condition reviews and management for patients with, for example, diabetes, asthma, COPD. They also provide care related to minor illnesses, family planning. injections, vaccination and cervical screening.

Clinical Pharmacists

Clinical pharmacists have undertaken additional training to prescribe for and advise patients on a range of illnesses and conditions. These include HRT, contraception and hypertension. With other pharmacy colleagues, they undertake medication reviews and safety assessments with patients.

Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)

HCAS are trained specifically to carry out specific practical services for patients. These can include blood tests, blood pressure checks, ECGS, INR tests, injections. They are also trained to recognise when a patient needs to be referred to the GP

Phlebotomists

Phlebotomists take blood for blood tests.

Look out for our next newsletter in which we will describe how patients and the clinical team are supported by a large administration team.

And coming soon! OMP PPG's new Facebook page will be live in February,

Image courtesy of the PPG.

OMP have since been rated 'Good' after a follow up appointment undertaken by the CQC.

Read more here.

Find out more about Oakham Medical Practice and the new Patient Participation group on the OMP website.