• Have you ever wanted to have a say in how your local GP practice operates? 
• Do you want to help your community live healthier lives?

We are The Cranborne Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG), a team of volunteer patients working hand-in-hand with the managers and clinicians at The Cranborne Practice and Lake Road Surgery.

We act as your "voice," helping to support, promote, and influence the best possible healthcare for everyone in our community.

We don't just sit around and talk—we take action! We collaborate directly with the Practice and NHS Dorset to make a real difference. As a member, you’ll help us:  

• Influence decisions: Get an inside look at GP Practice choices and offer valuable patient perspectives.  
• Drive community health: Support activities and initiatives that promote preventative medicine and healthy lifestyles.  
• Champion digital healthcare: Help patients learn to use online services and digital health apps effectively.  
• Keep people informed: Create and share clear patient advice, posters, leaflets, and updates across social media.  
• Stay organised: We follow a clear, goal-oriented Action Plan that we review at every meeting to ensure we are actually making progress. 

"Our PPG includes various ages, experiences, and backgrounds, so we all bring something different to the table."  

If you are a registered patient of The Cranborne Practice and over the age of 18, you are exactly who we are looking for!  

Choose How You Want to Get Involved:

We know everyone is busy, so you can choose the level of commitment that fits your lifestyle:

• The Active Voice: Attend our regular PPG Core member meetings (we meet 4 to 5 times a year, either face-to-face or via video conference).  
• The Digital Connection: Keep up with us on the go by joining our Virtual PPG Group on Facebook. 

To make sure our meetings are positive, respectful, and effective, we follow a few simple guidelines:

• True Collaboration: A senior member of the Practice Management team attends every meeting, and clinicians frequently drop in.  
• Transparency: Agendas and minutes (or video recordings) are always published right here on the website.  
• No Personal Medical Matters: To protect privacy, we never discuss individual medical histories, personal complaints, or single-issue grievances. We focus purely on the bigger picture for the whole community. 

Joining is simple, and you can choose the option that works best for you.

Option 1: Join the PPG Core Member Group via Email or Post

Please complete a PPG sign-up form using one of the links below:

• Download and print out our PPG Sign Up Form [Word}
  
• Download and print out our PPG Sign Up Form [PDF]
  

How to return your form:

• By Email: Scan or take a photo of your completed form and email it to cranborne.reception@dorsetgp.nhs.uk.

• By Hand: Drop it off at the Lake Road Surgery reception desk.  

• By Post: Mail it to:

The Cranborne Practice, The Surgery, Pennys Lane, Cranborne, Wimborne, Dorset  BH21 5QE

We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form.

Note:  By providing your email address, you confirm that you consent for us to contact you occasionally by email.

Option 2: Join Our Virtual Group (Facebook Group)

Can't make it to our regular 4 to 5 face-to-face or video meetings? Stay connected on the go by joining our private Facebook group.

Before being admitted, you will be asked to read and acknowledge our PPG Charter and Ground Rules to ensure our space remains positive and constructive.

• Request to Join the PPG Facebook Group

Stay informed on health and social care news.

As your Patient Participation Group (PPG), we act as a bridge between the surgery and the wider NHS.  

We receive regular briefings directly from local and national healthcare organisations, and we have created a space to share these updates with our fellow patients. 

Why this matters to you

Healthcare is constantly evolving. By visiting this page, you can stay informed about:

• Upcoming changes to local clinics or services.
• National campaigns and patient rights.
• Opportunities to participate in surveys or focus groups that shape the future of healthcare.

PPG Note: We update the PPG Information Hub at least monthly (or as soon as we receive critical news). If you have questions about a specific update, please feel free to reach out to us by email to cranborneppg@gmail.com, or join our Facebook Group. 

The PPG welcome contact from patients with any constructive ideas or suggestions that you may have.  Please email the Chairperson, Julie Saunders at cranborneppg@gmail.com with your thoughts along with the actions we or the Practice could take to better support patients' health and wellbeing.