The Leatside Surgery Patient Group

The Leatside Surgery Patient Group (LPG) is a Patient Participation Group (PPG) for patients of Leatside Surgery, Totnes.

Since April 2015, it has been a contractual requirement of NHS England for all GP practices to have a PPG and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to help improve the service. All patients of Leatside Surgery are automatically members of the LPG. Until 2024 the LPG had been relatively inactive, and meetings were unstructured. In April 2024, a general meeting was held attended by patients at which new Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the operation of the LPG were agreed.

Under the new ToRs elections were held for Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary and for members of the management committee, as well as providing for a new structure. It was agreed that committee meetings would be held, regularly, and two general meetings would be held each year.

The committee is continuing to encourage participation from more patients, especially younger ones who are not currently well represented. We hope that the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held at The Old School Hall, The Mansion, Fore Street, Totnes on 15th April at 18.00, will encourage more patients to stand for election to the committee.

If you are interested in being more being involved in the Patient Group and would like more information please contact me, Mike Mintrum, at chairlpgleatside@gmail.com or the Secretary at seclpgleatside@gmail.com. All patients are welcome at the AGM but if you do intend to come, please let the Secretary know so we can manage numbers more efficiently.

The LPG publishes a regular newsletter called ‘The Leat’ containing information for patients, NHS news as well as articles by the medical professionals at Leatside. Back copies are available on the Leatside website, under the Patient Group area, in Reception or from the Secretary.