The Patient Participation Group is 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.
Non-urgent advice: Information
Join our Patient Participation Group
All registered patients are welcome to attend any meeting of the Patient Participation Group without giving prior notice.
If you are interested in hearing about the activities of the Patient Participation Group but cannot/do not want to attend meetings please complete the form below to receive newsletters and invitations to contribute to the group activities online.
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:
- Complete our online PPG Sign Up Form
- Phone us – Delapre Medical Centre 01604 708481 or Whitefields Surgery 01604 760171
PPG Meetings
2025
September 2025
The Eleanor Cross Healthcare Patient Group met on 16th September 2025 at Whitefields Surgery, chaired by Dana with Dr Toyosi Adeniji in attendance. Updates included the arrival of Dr Casper Chimhete as a new salaried GP and news of an HCA leaving in October. Upcoming Protected Learning Time (PLT) training dates were confirmed for 1st October and 5th November, with December’s session cancelled. The practice has developed in-house trainers for Resuscitation and will roll out further staff training soon. COVID and flu vaccination clinics will begin in October, including weekend appointments. Dr Adeniji shared positive feedback from the recent SPRING diabetes group consultations and plans for future sessions. The group also discussed preparations for the Macmillan Coffee Morning on 26th September. Updates were provided on ANIMA and access improvements, including new digital screens at both sites, tablets for patient use at reception, and ideas for expanding communication via the website and social media. Dr Adeniji highlighted ongoing community health and equality projects promoting immunisations and health checks at local events. Suggestions were invited for outreach opportunities. Future plans include developing a patient access protocol, restarting the quarterly newsletter, and organising a virtual patient group meeting to improve inclusivity.
July 2025
The Eleanor Cross Healthcare Patient Group met on 8th July 2025 at Whitefields Surgery, chaired by Dana, with guest speakers Dr Jamie Green and Kate Houlihan from the Far Cotton and Delapre Community Council. Kate outlined local community initiatives, including the Men’s Breakfast Club, preschool Stay and Play sessions, and the Menopause Café at Delapre Abbey, with plans for a new Family Hub in the area. Dr Green presented LiveBetter Northampton, a new lifestyle medicine project promoting healthier living through group consultations on activity, nutrition, sleep, substance reduction, and mental wellbeing. The programme will initially run across Eleanor Cross Healthcare and St Luke’s as part of the PCN collaboration. Staffing remained stable, though one GP vacancy persists, with full nursing and admin teams in place. Friends and Family Test results continued to show strong positive feedback. An annual complaints review showed 48 complaints in 2024–25, with most not upheld. Upcoming PLT training closures were confirmed for 6th August (DMC only) and 3rd September (both sites). COVID and flu clinics were planned to begin in September. The group was reminded of the cancer care leads, Caroline Lunt and Peter Chapman, and informed about the installation of new electronic screens at both sites to enhance patient communication. Dr Toyosi Adeniji and Peter Chapman are also planning SPRING Wellbeing group consultations focused on diabetes, set to launch in August 2025. The next meeting was proposed for 16th September.
April 2025
The Eleanor Cross Healthcare Patient Group met on 15th April 2025 at Whitefields Surgery, chaired by Dana. The meeting featured a presentation from Caroline Lunt, Ageing Well Manager, who outlined the work of the Ageing Well team within the practice. Staffing updates included ongoing GP vacancies, the recruitment of two new nurses, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, and a Minor Illness Nurse. The group noted the upcoming retirement of Dr Mark Barrowclough and Managing Partner Mark Leonard in May. The practice was pleased to confirm that the recent CQC inspection resulted in a ‘GOOD’ rating, now published on the website. QOF performance was strong, with all targets achieved except for children’s immunisations, which remain a focus for improvement. Friends and Family Test results showed consistently positive patient feedback in January and February. Upcoming Protected Learning Time (PLT) sessions were confirmed for 7th May, 4th June, and 2nd July. COVID vaccination clinics continued at Whitefields, with two further Saturday sessions planned followed by smaller Friday afternoon clinics. The next patient group meeting was provisionally scheduled for July.
January 2025
The Eleanor Cross Healthcare Patient Group met on 28th January 2025 at Whitefields Surgery, chaired by Dana and attended by several staff and patients, including Dr Mudassar Rashid (GP Partner), Nurse Lynne Morrison, and GP Registrar Dr Mohamed Ruwaisdeen. Nurse Morrison, the practice’s Infection Prevention and Control Lead, gave an update on IPC initiatives and new patient information boards at both sites. Dr Ruwaisdeen presented his cancer care project and demonstrated how to access the new cancer support section on the practice website. Staffing updates included ongoing recruitment for up to two new GP partners, a Nurse Practitioner, and a Minor Illness Nurse. The group noted the departure of Nurse Jack Ratcliffe and the forthcoming relocation of Dr Aimee Lambert in March. The draft CQC report indicated that the practice rating had been upgraded to ‘Good’, with the final version expected in February. Friends and Family Test feedback remained highly positive, and compliments continue to be shared with clinicians and the wider team during training sessions. The final winter COVID/Flu vaccination clinic was scheduled for the following Friday, with spring vaccination plans awaited. Upcoming PLT training afternoons were confirmed for 12th February, 12th March, and 2nd April. The next patient group meeting was set for 15th April 2025.
2024
October 2024
The Eleanor Cross Healthcare Patient Group met on 29th October 2024 at Whitefields Surgery, chaired by Dana with pharmacist partner Nilesh Kumar in attendance. Updates covered staffing changes (farewell to Dr Marina Sefre and Dr Ogechi; Dr Mudassar Rashid joined as a full-time partner; Ellen Roberts became Nurse Manager; recruitment underway for an ANP, practice nurses, and a Care Navigator) and training (one FY doctor and five GP registrars in post). The practice is still awaiting the CQC report from the June inspection. Friends & Family Test feedback remained largely positive, with themes praising timely appointments, self check-in and Anima access, and areas to improve around reception and phone access. COVID/Flu clinics continue on upcoming Saturdays with booking via reception or the NHS portal; PLT closures were confirmed for 14th November and 4th December. Nilesh outlined the pharmacy team structure (two remote pharmacists, a pharmacy technician, and an in-house prescribing clerk) and a proposal to host private services—such as a travel clinic including yellow fever—with profits reinvested into the practice. Website improvements are being led by Dr Rashid, and the upgraded Anima online consultation system is enhancing access and messaging; an open patient forum on Anima was proposed. The Macmillan coffee morning raised nearly £200, with a spring repeat planned. Other items included inviting the IPC nurse lead to the January meeting, signposting requests for GP letters via the reports team, potential outreach at the “Healthy Hearts Matters” group, and plans to grow patient-group engagement via social media and open sessions. The next meeting was proposed for Tuesday 14th or 21st January at 1:30 pm, Whitefields.