Formed in 2006, the Patient Participation Group was set up as a collaboration between the doctors and patients at the surgery to provide patients with a greater voice in the running and services offered at the Practice.

The group is one of more than 300 PPG groups affiliated to the National Association for Patient Participation (www.napp.org.uk), an umbrella organisation for PPGs which offers a variety of services to patients, healthcare professionals, PCOs and NHS organisations.

In 2007 the group decided to register itself as a charity and the constitution was adopted on 5th November. The trustees consist of three patients, two doctors and the practice manager at the surgery.

By working with the doctors at the surgery we aim to provide a voice for local patients, to ensure the priorities of the surgery match the aspirations and needs of those patients.

Fundraising activities will enable the group to provide support services and equipment. In January 2008 we will launch a local Carers Group to provide an informal regular meeting for carers registered at the practice. In 2008 we also plan to establish a “listening service” for patients at the surgery to help them research about medical conditions and to provide someone they can turn to for support following a consultation with the doctors.

We are raising funds to purchase a 24 hour blood pressure machine that we will purchase in the next few months and we also want to raise funds to purchase an automatic defibrillator and tens machines.

The surgery is also in desperate need to be redeveloped to support the extended community. The PPG will play an active role in ensuring the redevelopment goes ahead and will work with the doctors to make sure the new look surgery meets the needs of all its patients. We would also like to provide a garden/quiet area as part of that development.

We have formed a relationship with the local Burbage Advertiser to provide a monthly newsletter that reaches every householder in Burbage and the associated villages (Wolvey, Sapcote and Sharnford). The December issue that was recently published celebrated our first year in print!

We have established a link with the local Hinckley Times and from time to time we will publish relevant articles/news to the wider community. Recently there was an article in the paper following our first charity golf day we held at the Ullesthorpe Golf Club.

Hopefully all of our patients would have noticed the prints at the surgery provided by pupils at the Hastings High School. It is our intention to continue to develop our relationship with the local schools so that we can work with them to get involved in the surgery and also help to promote healthcare in the local community.