When talking to people at my practice I always direct myself towards people 18-60 as its very important for the children coming towards 18 that may have illnesses. I also talk to people and ask for them to tell their friends and family.. If they have any long term conditions.
I am going to speak to the Practice Manager next week and ask if they can find out from their computer systems of any 17/18 year old diabetics to get letters sent out to them ref applying for exemption certificates.
Honestly, by joining PPG's you can do so much to raise awareness in your communities.
I just went along last year to a group that only had 2-5 regular moaners going.... I was elected as chairperson on my 1st meeting!! We now have 87 members, 30 joined up to attend and we regularly have 15 attending and its all about helping patients and not moaning.
Our PM tells us so much and now we are improving loads. Newsletters, good surveys, exhibitions, all new seating, grants from our Councillors to buy childrens toys, new comfy chairs for the elderly and frail, and last grant was for information leadlet stands.
I am trying to find a source of funding to buy some laptops so that our GP's can skype people from home and thus giving patients a better service. The GP's are willing. Its just that the laptops have to be NHS software ones and are **** expensive.
Sorry for wandering off subject, but if people are concerned then PPG's are a direct way to influence what is happening in your communities and at your Practices.
Some PPG's do nothing admitedly. By April NHS England want every practice to have a PPG. Yes, ours did have just sit on bums, do nothings a year ago. Now, its completely turned round. We have a Practice Manager that is superb and is fundamentally trying to improve things for patients.