Constitution for the Inspire Patient Group

Name

The name of the group shall be Inspire Patient Group (IPG).

Aim

The aim of the IPG is to provide a means for patients to make constructive suggestions about the Inspire Health Practice (the practice), their own health care and the care of others.

Objectives

The IPG will :

act as the focal point for patients and health professionals to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest.
assist in the continuous improvement of quality patient services in health care and welfare.
act as a communications channel between the practice team and the patients, to assist patients and the medical team to use facilities to their best advantage and for the practice to implement policies influenced by patient views.
provide a forum where topics relevant to the practice are discussed and disseminated.
from time to time, conduct patient surveys on behalf of the practice.
have a system within the practice administration for all records and administration relating to the IPG.

Membership

Membership is open to all patients registered with the practice who are over the age of 16.

Youth members, ie: patients under the age of 16, may attend the AGM and any open meetings if accompanied by an appropriate adult.

Officers and committee

IPG business will be carried out by a Committee elected at the AGM. The committee shall manage the day to day administration of the IPG and will meet as necessary and not less than three times a year. The Committee will consist of 10 members composed of 5 officers and 5 committee members. Up to 2 additional members may be co-opted at the discretion of the committee.

The officers’ roles are as follows:

Chair, who shall chair both general and committee meetings.
Secretary, who shall be responsible for the taking of minutes and the distribution of all papers.
Treasurer, who shall be responsible for liaising with the Practice Manager to manage the accounts and funds of the IPG.
A doctor, who will attend the meetings and provide insight into the Practice.
The Practice Manager, who will manage the IPG accounts and funds and liaise with the IPG Treasurer

In the event of an officer standing down during the year a replacement will be elected by the next General Meeting of members. Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for three consecutive meetings may be asked if they wish to resign.

Meetings

AGM:

An AGM shall be held within 15 months of the previous AGM.
Notice of the AGM shall be given via the Practice website and on the IPG notice board.
Such notice shall be given no less than 6 weeks before the date of the AGM giving the venue date and time.
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting.
Items for the AGM Agenda shall be submitted no less than 4 weeks prior to the AGM. Such items to be sent to:

The Secretary, Inspire Patient Group, Inspire Health, 109 Saltergate, Chesterfield, S40 1LE.

At the AGM:

The Committee will present a report on the work of the IPG over the year.
The Committee will present any accounts for the IPG over the year.
The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected. In the event of more than one nomination for an officer post there shall be a secret ballot of those present.
The quorum for the AGM will be 10 members.
Any proposals given to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.

Committee Meetings:

Committee meetings will be open to all members and will be held at least once every 4 months or more often if necessary.
All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda either by email or notice on the IPG notice board at the Practice.
The quorum for committee meetings will be a minimum of 4 members in attendance.
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to. If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
Committee meetings will be held as required but at least 3 times a year.
In addition to a doctor and the practice manager any practice staff may attend committee meetings as ex-officio members, to listen and to comment but not to vote.
The committee may convene sub-groups as necessary. Such sub-groups will report to the committee where final decisions will be ratified.
The committee shall present an annual report to the AGM.
Any casual vacancy on the committee may be filled on invitation by the committee until the next AGM.
The committee may co-opt members of the patient body onto the committee as they deem necessary, for example a person who has some specialist skill or knowledge that will assist the committee.

Special General Meeting

The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members making a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request.

The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request.

All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date time and agenda, and notice may be by email and notice on the IPG notice boards at the Practice.

The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 10 members.

Finance

IPG funds will be held within the Inspire Medical Practice account and administered by the Practice Manager who will liaise with the IPG Treasurer to ensure accounts are available for the AGM.

Withdrawals will be made on the agreement of the Practice Manager and the Chair and Treasurer of the IPG.

Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer liaising with the Practice Manager and a financial statement will be given at each meeting. All money raised by or on behalf of the IPG is only to be used to further the aim of the group specified in this constitution.

Confidentiality

The Committee shall keep confidential any matters regarding the practice and its patients which might reasonably be considered to be of a sensitive or confidential nature.

Notice of the Constitution

Upon request a copy of this constitution will be made available to members of the IPG

Amendments to the Constitution

Any proposal to amend this Constitution must be given in writing addressed to The Secretary, Inspire Patient Group, Inspire Health, 109 Saltergate, Chesterfield, S40 1LE. Amendments can only be made at the AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). EGMs may be called by the committee or by a minimum of 10 members of the patient body requesting such a meeting. Such a request must be in writing and signed by all those making the request. Notice of EGMs shall be given on the website and the IPG board.

Dissolution

If a meeting by simple majority decides it is necessary to close down the IPG it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the IPG. In the event of the dissolution of the IPG notice will be given on the website and the IPG boards. If it is agreed to dissolve the IPG any funds once any outstanding debts have been paid will be donated to the Practice.

This Constitution was updated 4/25 and for ratification at AGM 10/9/25.