For details of the regular 'Walks to Better Health' go to PPG Calendar

Dates for your Diary

Dates of our walks for 2019 are given below –

 May   14th     30th

June   11th     27th

July     9th       25th

No walks in August

September  10th     26th

October        8th       24th

November   12th     28th

December    10th

BRIDGE COTTAGE PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP 

Following an approach by Welwyn Parish Plan Group at the end of 2015, the partners of Bridge Cottage Surgery, in the interests of wider consultation with all patients registered with the practice, have supported the formation of a Patient Participation Group (PPG). The name is used nationally to describe groups in local communities formed specifically for this purpose.

PPGs are widespread across the country, indeed they form an integral element of the contract between general practitioners and the NHS.

Accordingly in March Bridge Cottage PPG was officially launched. It consists of 11 local volunteers, with a balanced  representation of sexes, who have expressed an interest and committment to get the scheme off the ground. The surgery is represented on the Group by Debbie Crossley, Practice Manager and Dr. Chandarana, nominated to represent the partners.

Members of the PPG will be meeting at the surgery every 2 months to review progress and agree future plans. The objective of the PPG is to help improve health services to all patients registered with the practice by supporting health services and programmes offered by the partners or suggested by East and North Herts NHS, with whom the PPG will be in regular contact and through attendance at their training events..

Typical examples of PPG involvement will include reporting patients’ experiences, promoting healthy living advice, publicising and supporting campaigns such as obesity control and diabetes prevention, encouraging attendance for flu jabs, publicising support advice for carers and gathering reports of post-hospital experience.

The necessary ‘out-reach’ to achieve this will inevitably begin with personal contacts and articles such as this one, but it will be reinforced  by creation of a much larger ‘virtual PPG’ consisting of patients willing to receive information, spread the message and report responses on-line. The use of social media for the same purpose is also being considered.

It is important to stress that no reference to or discussion of any individual clinical or private health matter is permitted, nor can the PPG be used to obtain any personal advantage for clinical treatment.

The role of a PPG has been described as ‘the critical friend’ of a practice. As the description implies it is designed to strengthen local health provision through an open and frank relationship with the practice, raising questions on organisational matters, finding solutions to justified criticism and helping the practice introduce and publicise health service improvements.

Affiliation to the National Association of PPGs is a source of practical advice and examples of successful initiatives.

All registered patients of Bridge Cottage surgery are eligible to be members of the PPG and have the opportunity to put their names forward for vacancies at an annual AGM, when all current members and office holders of the PPG will resign, and may offer themselves for re-election.

Jon Green

Chairman Bridge Cottage PPG

‘Walking to Better Health’ in Welwyn.

(This Article is extracted from the Welwyn Magazine November 2016 edition)

Did your mother say that exercise good for you, and now you find that it is your Doctor who is telling you?

Of course, we all know it is true, and maybe we don’t relish the idea, but exercise does not have to mean pounding a treadmill in the gym, or running a marathon.

If you feel you could benefit from some gentle exercise in the company of like-minded sociable folk, without exhausting yourself and your purse, maybe a new initiative from the Bridge Cottage Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) is what you are looking for.

‘Walking to Better Health‘ is a new programme of gentle fortnightly walks around Welwyn’s wonderful countryside. Walks are designed to help everyone get a little exercise over planned routes equally suitable for those who are new to walking or the more seasoned walker.

We are lucky to have such beautiful countryside around the village and these gentle walks will vary between a mile and 3 miles in our lovely area, all led by experienced local walkers.

Two walks will be offered each month, one on a Tuesday and one on a Thursday, both starting at 10 am. The inaugural walk took place on Tuesday 18th October 2016 starting at St Mary’s Church. A gentle stroll of about a mile around Singler’s Marsh culminated with coffee at the Community Cafe in Church House.

The programme continues, and details of future walks will be displayed around the village – please look out for the posters on the board in Bridge Cottage Surgery, in The Welwyn Magazine, and of course in the PPG Calendar on this website too.

Do join us if you can.

Of course, whilst exercise is good for us it should be undertaken sensibly, so should you have any concerns regarding the suitability of these walks for you, have a chat with your Health Professional.

For more details contact 01438 716598