Patient Participation Group

A group of volunteer patients, carers and surgery staff who meet regularly to discuss and support the running of the surgery.

Patient Participation Groups look at the services offered, patient experience and how improvements can be made for the benefit of everyone.

Each Patient Participation Group is different, but they all have the aim of making sure that the surgery puts the patient, and improving health, at the heart of everything it does.

Who are we?

The Friends of Parkfield Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG) was formed in October 1998. We are a registered charity (number 1075710). Persons wishing to join the PPG may do so providing they are 18 or over and patients of Parkfield Medical Centre. A committee is drawn from the membership to manage the work of the group.

What do we do?

The overall aims of the PPG are to develop a positive and constructive relationship between patients and the practice, and to inform patients about health care by providing talks and discussions, by publishing newsletters and providing information about NHS initiatives. We also aim to provide items of equipment that the practice is unable to supply themselves and a comprehensive library of books on health topics.

Members of the PPG committee attend wider health forums within Hertfordshire to keep informed of changes that may affect Parkfield patients and to represent patient’s views. Members of the committee welcome feedback from patients on areas of wider concern as well as about what would enhance their experiences at the practice. A list of committee members is displayed on the PPG noticeboard in the surgery.

We have a team of volunteers who assist the surgery/patients in various ways. If you have any spare time and are interested in finding out more, please email us at friendsofparkfieldppg@gmail.com.

We are here to represent you so please do get in touch.

A series of free health talks are offered throughout the year, details available through the newsletter and on our Facebook page.

Supporting the PPG

If you are able, we welcome an annual donation of £2.00 per adult or £3.00 family membership (or more, by choice). This money goes towards the provision of information, equipment, additional services for patients, and regular newsletters for distribution to members.

If you are a UK taxpayer we can use Gift Aid to recover tax on your donation and boost this by 25p for every pound you donate.

Potters Bar hospital services questionnaire

Potters Bar community hospital has in the past provided a number of outpatient services but many of these, particularly outpatient diagnostic services, were withdrawn as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The future of these services at PBCH is in discussion, with your local GPs and the Patient Participation Groups of the three Potters Bar GP practices pushing for the resumption and expansion of the range of diagnostic services that can be provided.

You can help us by completing the patient views questionnaire (PDF).

Please return the completed questionnaire to Friendsofparkfieldppg@gmail.com.

Join our Patient Participation Group

All registered patients are able to join our Patient Participation Group. People of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and those with health conditions and disabilities are encouraged to join.

Members should as far as possible, be representative of the surgery population.

To join:

PPG newsletters

PPG events