Patient Participation Group

The Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a great way to have your say and represent patients within Topsham Surgery.

The PPG or Patient Participation Group is a partnership collaboration between a group of patients, carers and practice staff who meet to improve the service of the practice.

Topsham Surgery's PPG relaunched in April 2025 and are meeting on a regular basis.

A copy of the group's Terms of Reference, PPG Confidentiality Policy and meeting minutes are available below.

If you are interested in joining the group, please see the below FAQs and get in touch with the PPG's Chair, Mike on the email address below.

What is a PPG for?

A PPG will:

  • Act as ambassadors for the practice
  • Help the practice improve services
  • Improve communication and be actively involved with patient surveys
  • Offer practical support to the practice and patients
What isn't a PPG?

PPGs are not:

  • A forum for complaints
  • A way of seeking medical advice
  • A time consuming commitment
How do PPGs work?
  • PPGs will meet usually on a quarterly basis in person.
  • The PPG will usually by run jointly by the practice and the PPG group.
  • They will look at patient feedback from different sources available such as surveys, Friends & Family Test response data, complaints and compliments.
  • They will be consulted and asked for their opinion on changes that will affect patients.
How can we help or get involved?

If you have read the above and would like to get involved please get in touch with the PPG's chair, Mike.

The PPG will also need the following roles to support its running:

  • Chair (in post until April 2026)
  • Vice Chair (in post until April 2026)
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer (if fund raising or holding funds)

If interested in holding a role within the PPG please indicate this in your initial email.

How to contact the PPG

The Topsham Surgery & Glasshouse Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG) email address is monitored by the Chair of the PPG and occassionally the Practice Manager. The mailbox will be checked on a weekly basis.


Clinical and administrative queries should not be sent to this inbox as the PPG do not have access to medical records or patient information outside what is chosen to be shared through this email address. 


Any clinical or administrative queries, including complaints and compliments to topshamadmin@nhs.net. 


General feedback is welcomed by the PPG; however, they are unable to respond to or investigate complaints on the practice's behalf.


The PPG Chair can be contacted on: d-icb.topsham.patientgroup@nhs.net

Meeting minutes