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Digital drop-in sessions prove popular with patients
Patients at our practice have been very fortunate to get hands-on support with digital healthcare tools thanks to a series of digital drop-in sessions run by our Patient Participation Group (PPG).
These sessions support the national move towards a ‘digital-first’ approach, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England. They aim to give patients the confidence and skills to manage their healthcare online.
The sessions have focused on using Anima, the NHS App and other online services.
Pam Jones, PPG Vice-Chair and Secretary, said: “We often receive questions about Anima, the NHS App and ordering prescriptions online. Supporting patients to feel confident using these tools is part of our PPG’s role. We know how busy the reception team is, so we were delighted to see that running a few dedicated sessions could help both patients and the practice.
“Since Anima launched, we have run four support sessions and attendance has increased each time. The last two sessions were particularly well attended after being advertised in the Yaxley Gazette. Many patients told us that’s how they found out about them.”
One memorable moment for the PPG team was hearing from a patient with hearing difficulties:
“She told us that Anima has been her saviour, as she no longer has to rely on her husband to contact the surgery, especially for personal matters. We showed her extra support options to make the process even easier, and her face lit up. It was a magical moment – she truly felt included.”
While some patients found smartphone verification for the NHS App challenging, overall feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
From left to right:
- Eric Hitchcock, PPG Committee Member
- Pam Jones, PPG Vice-Chair and Secretary
- Paul Underwood, PPG Chair
From left to right:
- Pam Jones, PPG Vice-Chair and Secretary
- Diane Mitchell, PPG Committee Member
Pam added: “Patients really value having time to sit down and talk through their difficulties without feeling they are holding up a queue at reception. With three of us from the PPG running the sessions, no one had to wait, and patients appreciated not feeling rushed.”
Our Practice Manager, Aija Selby, praised the PPG’s efforts, saying: “We are so grateful to our PPG for taking the time to run these sessions. They have made a real difference to our patients, helping them feel more confident with digital tools. Their hard work and commitment are hugely appreciated.”
Following the success of these sessions, the PPG plans to run drop-in sessions every other month from September 2025. These will be advertised in the Yaxley Gazette, on Facebook and at the practice.
Pam concluded: “We will do our best to have up to three PPG members at each session. We will monitor attendance and adapt as needed to make sure patients continue to benefit.”
Published: Jul 23, 2025