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Patient Participation Group
Help Shape the Future of Your GP Practice
Woodgrange Medical Practice has an active and well-established Patient Participation Group (PPG).
Our PPG brings together patients and members of the practice team to work collaboratively, share ideas, and help improve the services we provide. Your feedback and experiences play a vital role in shaping the future of our practice and contributing to the wider NHS.
We welcome patients of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to join. Whether you have suggestions for improvement, would like to share your experiences, or simply want to stay informed about developments within the practice, we'd love to hear from you.
Why Join Our PPG?
As a member of the Patient Participation Group, you can:
- Share your views and experiences to help improve patient services.
- Contribute ideas that influence how care is delivered.
- Work alongside the practice team to support positive changes.
- Help ensure the patient voice is represented in decisions affecting our community.
Get Involved
Would you like to make a difference to your GP practice and local healthcare services?
We'd love to welcome you to our next Patient Participation Group meeting, where you can learn more about the group and how you can get involved.
If you would like to sign up to the PPG and you are happy for us to contact you, please complete our sign-up form.
Latest Meeting Minutes
If you require minutes of an older meeting please contact us
Meeting 13th April 2026
PPG members in attendance.
- Caroline Brown (chair) CB
- Pauline St. Leger (secretary) PS
- Mayling M
- Angela Bannister (could not connect on Teams)
- Stacia Whyte SW
- Jennifer Sheik JS
- Susanne Rauprich SR
Practice Representatives
- Dr. Martin Edobor( GP Partner) ME
- Mahmuda Begum (Deputy Practice Manager) MB
- Dr Naqvi (Partner) MN
In attendance:
- Alina Zhudro (to discuss EMMA) AZ
- Dr Naqvi reported that the Practice had invested in core IT infrastructure (EMMA). MN
Apologies
Apologies were received by Lorraine Francis and it was noted that Angela Bannister tried to attend but the connection did not work for her.
1. Welcome
ME opened the meeting welcoming everyone present.
2. Practice Update
ME confirmed that the practice now has over 50 employees with additional salaried GP’s, a new Deputy Practice Manager, 2 trainees and a researcher
Rebecca. He stated that they believed that the Practice is better staffed than any other in Newham. The practice list will increase by 2,000 to 18.000 as there are more salaried sessions.
3. EMMA (AI Receptionist)
AZ was in attendance to outline the functioning of EMMA. (Enhanced Medical Management Assistant) an AI powered virtual receptionist and telephone assistant designed specifically for GP surgeries. It is used to answer incoming patient calls instantly, eliminate phone queues and triage patient requests.
MN explained that the idea was to be able to deal with more patients with the same day response. It was confirmed that since introduction the back log of a waiting time of 2-3 weeks has been cleared. There is now a response within 24 hours. It was raised that most patients access the service via Accurex, EMMA can complete an Accurex form if patients are unable to do so . The system makes no clinical decisions, it takes information but does not give it. MN explained that the service was secure with strong protections in place. It is now used by 5 Practices in Newham.
There was an extensive discussion about EMMA and its role particularly in relation to feedback, failed calls and algorithms.
JS enquired concerning feedback about EMMA.
It was suggested that the PPG could collect? Collate feedback from patients.
Action: WMP/PPG
SW queried the website and information for instance EMMA, events and PPG update. (the site should be regularly updated)
Action The TV in Reception to show a greater range of information including information on the PPG.
Action: WMP
It was agreed that as EMMA was a new initiative within the Practice its effectiveness should be discussed at a future PPG in six+ months
4. Terms of Reference
There was a brief discussion about the document that had been distributed and it was agreed that it was important that all parties were able to comment and agree or suggest amendments.
Mayling agreed to send round an MS Forms for members to add their comments or agreement next week with a poll open for a week. The ToR could then be discussed and signed off at the next PPG meeting.
5. Date of the Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for 6th July in person at the Surgery.