As we enter the new year, it's a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the past twelve months and look forward to the future. This year has brought significant change to our PPG, particularly with the departure of long-serving committee members Glynn, our previous Chair, and Julie, our Secretary, who both stepped down at our AGM after many years of dedicated service. Their commitment, time, and effort have been invaluable in building and maintaining our strong relationship with Modality Mid Sussex. We offer them our sincere thanks once again.
There’s been a huge sense of achievement for Modality Mid Sussex this year, having achieved a "Good" rating from the CQC. My thanks go to all the staff at Modality for their tireless efforts in improving services, and to the PPG for their continued dedication and willingness to challenge and support the Practice through what was a demanding period.
My interest in our community led me to join the PPG, and I’m enjoying the chance to give back. Combining my involvement with the local athletics club and years of volunteering with East Grinstead Parkrun and the odd Haywards Heath Parkrun, I wanted to explore how healthy lifestyles could be better supported. I am grateful to my fellow committee members for their support and advice during my transition into the role of Chair, and I embrace the responsibility of representing 30,000 patients across Mid Sussex.
Looking ahead, we've identified some key areas for focus over the coming year. One of the biggest challenges we face is digital exclusion – ensuring that those who lack access to or familiarity with technology aren't left behind as more services move online. The PPG is working with Modality, Age UK, and Community People to address this, and we'll be supporting a new training and support program in during 2026. We’ll share more details soon.
Beyond digital inclusion, we’ll also be focusing on improving the patient experience – from appointment access and communication to ensuring patients understand the full range of services available. Finally, with ongoing development and changing demographics in our area, we need to ensure that resources are adequate to meet the increasing demand, rather than simply stretching existing services further.
As with any voluntary role, it requires a commitment of time and energy, sometimes meaning the grass isn’t cut or dinner is delayed. My heartfelt thanks go to my family for their understanding and support.
As we enter the first days and weeks of the new year, we look forward to continuing to work towards further improvements for all our patients.
Eddie