In partnership with our innovative Patient Participation Group (WS-PPG), we have had a tremendously successful year as we strive to deliver a service of excellence for thecommunity of Whitestone and beyond. First we offer our warmest regards to the retiring Chair and Vice Chair of WS-PPG Di Kent and Hay Sharma. Their five-year service to the patients have left an enviable legacy, which will be a hard act to follow.
Welcome to the new Chair and Vice Chair – Patricia Lawlor and Richard Healey. They come with a strong track record of public service and already have stamped their authority on our group, overseeing the launch of POSITIVE VIBES HEALTHY LIVES, a programme led by Hannah King, redesigning Health and Wellbeing activities for young people in the Whitestone area. The launch on 30th November was supported by ten local partners.
On 24th April, speaking in Parliament about WS-PPG, Marcus Jones MP said ‘All those sorts of activities are really improving the situation in the area by reducing social isolation and loneliness. As a result of that ongoing work, the surgery is seeing the prescription of a significantly lower amount of antidepressants and fewer people being diagnosed with dementia than at other surgeries with a similar patient cohort’. Click here to read the full statement.
We have formed a partnership with Oxford University’s Centre of Evidence Based Medicine and Warwickshire County Council to establish a centre of excellence to regionally replicate our award-winning model of social prescribing. Click here to find out more.
BBC Midlands Today recognised WS-PPG for leading the way in social prescribing in the UK and featured us in a news item. Click here to find out more. The Surgery was also a finalist in the category of ‘Caring GP Practice of the Year’ at the Carer’s Trust awards. Click here to find out more.
We are proud to announce that our Caring Café and Memory Group have raised a total of £300 this year for Alzheimers UK , £100 for the Air Ambulance and £40 for the School Book Club at Magyar. If you have suggestions for future services you would like to see in 2020 or can offer your support or skills to our group – a warm welcome awaits!
As 2019 draws to a close, we sincerely thank you for your continued support, and wish you a very happy and healthy 2020.
“Our Pledge to you for 2020 is to maintain and develop our centre of excellence for your care”
The Whitestone team
December 2019
