Patients Participation Group [PPG]

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a vital part of our GP practice. It consists of a group of patients who work together with the practice to:

• Improve communication between the practice and its patients.
• Provide feedback and suggestions on how the practice can improve services.
• Help shape the future of the practice by sharing patient perspectives.
• Organise health promotion events and support the practice in its efforts to improve patient care.

The PPG is open to all registered patients, and we strongly encourage you to join. By becoming a member, you can:

• Make a difference in the quality of care and services we provide.
• Voice your opinions and concerns directly to the practice staff.
• Participate in meaningful discussions about practice policies and procedures.
• Engage in initiatives that benefit the entire patient community.

Find out how to join below.

Kam Mistry – Current Vice Chair

Kam comes from a retail background and currently works as a Service Desk Analyst in the IT department. He also serves as a school governor at a large local secondary school. Kam joined the PPG to represent patients’ views and ensure that the services provided by our doctors and nurses meet the needs of our registered patients. He values patient feedback, whether positive or negative, to help drive continuous improvement.

Jeanette Robertson – Current Chair

With over 30 years of experience on various health committees, Jeanette is a valuable member of Leicester LINKs and other health-related forums. Her career began as a teacher, after which she ran three small businesses and later managed Volunteer Bureaus and Councils of Voluntary Services. Jeanette has lived in Evington for the past 59 years and was instrumental in setting up the PPG at our surgery.

Chris Mitchell

Chris has been a registered patient at Downing Drive Surgery since 1995. He spent his career in the automotive aftermarket, eventually selling his company, Mitchell Marketing Ltd., to an American firm in 1992. Though he hasn’t had a full-time occupation since, he remains active with various smaller investments. Chris has been a member of the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Club for 60 years and still plays three times a week. He was a trustee of LOROS for 15 years, serving as one of the four Honorary Officers for three years, and is an ex-chair of the LOROS shops committee, overseeing 30 shops—a role he finds very rewarding.

Gordon Squires

Gordon was born in Leicester in May 1939 and has lived there his entire life. He attended local schools before moving to Oundle School in 1953, where he passed his O-level exams. In 1957, he joined a firm of chartered accountants in Leicester and qualified in 1963. After a varied career in industry and the profession, he retired in 1999.

Gordon is married with two adult children and five grandchildren. He lives with his wife on Stoughton Lane and enjoys gardening with her. Gordon is passionate about sports and plays tennis at least twice a week. He is also a member of the local Probus group and enjoys holidays and walking in the countryside both in the UK and abroad.

Pam Goodman

Pam was born and raised in the Northeast near Newcastle upon Tyne. She moved to Leicestershire in 1968 when she married Steve. Pam initially worked in Marine Survey at the Board of Trade before transferring to a BoT office in Leicester. She later joined British Enkalon in their sales department, which she found more interesting.

After leaving work in 1970 to raise her three children, Pam returned to work in 1985 with Leicester City Libraries. She enjoyed interacting with the public and remained with the library service until her retirement in 2017.

Pam has been involved in setting up and developing the tennis club in Houghton on the Hill, serving on the committee for over six years. She also served on parents’ committees at her children’s schools and, together with Steve, volunteered for an ONS/Oxford University infection survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steve Goodman

Steve was born and raised in Leicestershire. He spent the first 20 years of his career as a manager and director in various businesses, gaining experience in operations, purchasing, sales, finance, and customer service. In 1987, he founded a management consultancy business to pursue the variety he enjoyed. He later discovered business coaching and focused on that until his retirement in 2020.

Steve has a particular expertise in customer service and its role in driving organizational excellence. In 2010, he earned a Diploma in Customer Service Management from Leicester University.

Outside of work, Steve has coached Mini and Junior Rugby and served as Chair of the Houghton Field Association, assisting in developing the Houghton Neighbourhood Plan. During the pandemic, he became an NHS responder and, with Pam, participated in the ONS/Oxford University infection survey. Steve is also an active member and the Honorary Treasurer of Houghton Tennis Club.

Jackie Williams

To join the PPG, simply email downingdrivesurgeryppg@gmail.com to express your interest, and a PPG member will respond to you. We welcome all patients who are passionate about enhancing the quality of care and services we offer.

Alternatively complete the online form.

The Downing Drive Surgery PPG hosts a friendly coffee morning every Monday from 10am to 11:30am (except on Bank Holidays) at the Church of God, conveniently located next door to the surgery on Downing Drive.

Enjoy tea, coffee, and biscuits for a small cost while you chat and make new friends. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow patients and members of the community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) publishes an annual newsletter that includes valuable information about our services and updates about our staff. We aim to release these newsletters each Autumn.

In the past, we have distributed the newsletter via post. Moving forward, we plan to send it out electronically to make it more accessible. If you prefer a printed version of the PPG newsletter, please contact the surgery, and we will be happy to provide one. Printed copies will also be available in the reception area at the time of release, subject to availability.

To view previous newsletters, please click the links below:

PPG Newsletter Summer 2023

PPG Newsletter November 2022

Every year, our Patient Participation Group (PPG) holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) on behalf of the practice for its patients. It is a great opportunity to discuss the latest practice news and updates, and to get involved with the PPG by talking to one of its members. We encourage all interested patients to attend and participate in shaping the future of our practice.

This year, the AGM will be held on Monday, October 14th, 2024, starting at 7 PM at the Surgery.

We look forward to seeing you there!