In April 2016 it was agreed by SWF Healthcare 2000 Group (SWFHC2000) and SWF Town Council (SWF TC) to form the new South Woodham Ferrers Health & Social Care Group (SWF H&SCG). This is an amalgamation of SWFHC2000 and the SWF Care Lunches. It was agreed to run SWF H&SCG for an initial year’s pilot when it was reviewed in conjunction with SWF TC. It was then agreed to continue as SWF H&SCG was operating as had been intended.

SWFH&SCG is an independent group with its own governance arrangements as set out below.

Purpose of the Group

SWF H&SCG was established to look after the health and social care interests of the people of South Woodham Ferrers, recognising the roles of health and social care related professionals, volunteers and the Patient Participation Groups.

SWF H&SCG incorporates the SWFHC2000 Task Force, which convene when consultation or representation is required to consider major health and social care issues affecting the Town.

The task force includes representatives from:

  • Essex County Council
  • Chelmsford City Council
  • SWF Town Council
  • SWF Chairs of Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)
  • SWF Practice Managers
  • SWF Church Community
  • SWF Pharmacists
  • SWF Dentists
  • SWF Opticians
  • Members of the SWF Business Community
  • SWF Educational establishments
  • SWF Womens Institutes (WIs)
  • SWF Rotary Club
  • SWF Senior Citizens
  • SWF Sports & uniformed groups

Others may be added as needed. The Town’s MP is kept advised of significant developments and is expected to continue to use this group for appropriate constituency purposes.

Each of SWF’s three General Practices has a Patient Participation Group (PPG) which interacts with the Practice Staff to try to ensure that the best quality services are provided for their patients. In addition there is a combined group known as the South Woodham Ferrers Combined PPGs (CPPGs).  The CPPGs works closely with SWF H&SCG on matters involving all health and social care services provision for the Town. SWF H&SCG leads on all non-GP services whilst the CPPGs leads on the Town’s GP services. Although individual Practices have their own websites on which PPGs have a page,, they have agreed with SWF H&SCG to use its website for communicating collective issues.  Additionally they will utilise SWF H&CG’s social media to obtain the widest possible coverage. So from time to time you will see PPG news here helping to give an integrated view of health and social care in SWF.

Governance

SWFH&SCG was established to look after the health and social care interests of the people of South Woodham Ferrers, recognising the roles of health and social care related professionals, volunteers and the Patient Participation Groups.

SWFH&SCG also took on the SWFHC2000 Task Force which convenes to consider major health and social care issues affecting the Town where consultation or representation is required.

Representatives of the following are participants:

  • Essex County Council
  • Chelmsford City Council
  • SWF Town Council
  • SWF CPPG
  • SWF Practice Managers
  • SWF Faith Communities
  • SWF Pharmacists
  • SWF Dentists
  • SWF Opticians
  • SWF Business Community
  • SWF Education
  • SWF WIs
  • SWF Rotary & other benevolent groups
  • SWF Senior Citizens
  • SWF Sports & uniformed groups

Others may be added as needed. The Town’s MP is kept advised of significant developments and is expected to continue to use this group for appropriate constituency purposes.

Each of SWF’s General Practices has a Patient Participation Group (PPG) which interacts with the Practice Staff to try to ensure that the best quality services are provided for their patients. In addition, there is a combined group known as the South Woodham Ferrers Combined PPGs (CPPGs). The CPPGs works closely with SWF H&SCG on matters involving all health and social care services provision for the Town. SWF H&SCG leads on all non-GP services whilst the CPPGs leads on the Town’s GP services. Although individual Practices have their own websites on which PPGs have a page, they have agreed with SWF H&SCG to use its website for communicating collective issues. Additionally, they will utilise SWF H&SCG’s social media to obtain the widest possible coverage. So from
time to time you will see PPG news here helping to give an integrated view of health and social care in SWF. This has increased substantially during the Covid-19 pandemic.