In March 2011 a small steering group was established to look at the feasibility of developing a new patient participation group for our surgery at Lyndhurst Medical Centre.
The steering group, guided by a facilitator, introduced a development process to ensure the long-term sustainability of the group and to ensure the engagement of all of those taking part. Three meetings followed to draw up a plan of action with the help of the Community Engagement Officer from the Bexley Business Support Unit.
The model and structure of the group were considered very carefully and after much discussion and debate it was agreed to set up a smaller core representative group called the Lyndhurst Patient Participation Group and a larger reference group called the Virtual Patient Reference Group reaching out to the wider patient numbers. Patients interested in joining the virtual patient reference group can email lyndhurst.surgery@nhs.net.