If you would like to join our group, please complete the Patient Participation Group Registration form.
What is a patient participation group?
Every PPG is different depending on local needs. They mainly work with the practices to offer a patient’s perspective on the services provided. They also help to improve communication and encourage patient to take more responsibility for their health and to provide practice support.
There is a national organisation for patient led groups within general practice called NAPP. This was formed in 1978 and helps new groups get started.
What is patient participation
Patients working with the practice to:
- Contribute to the improvement of services.
- Improve communication between the practice and patients.
- Help patients take more responsibility for their health.
- Provide practical support and help.
Each PPG determines its own activities and should be self organising, undertake activities and be patient led.
The PPG can build a relationship between the practice and patients.
What are the benefits?
Good for patients because:
- Patients will be more responsible for their own health.
- Patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice and its staff.
- Patients will benefit from improved communications.
- Patients will have a forum to suggest positive ideas and voice concerns.
- Patients will be able to get an idea of what is needed to improve healthcare.
Good for the practice staff because:
- They will be able to help patients with non medical and social care issues.
- They will be able to get help from patients in meeting targets and objectives.
- They will have a forum to voice concerns, ideas and suggestions to patients.
What can a PPG do?
The list below summarises some of the activities that other PPGs are involved in:
- Providing feedback from patients e.g. on appointment systems, repeat prescriptions etc.
- Monitoring communication e.g. developing the practice booklet.
- Carrying out surveys into a whole variety of subjects e.g. measuring patient satisfaction, awareness and expectations.
- Offering practical help e.g. flu clinics.
- Improving practice facilities e.g. maintaining plants.
- Helping to obtain the patient view.
- Offering support to other patients.
- Encouraging health education activities within the practice.
- Assisting in the production of a practice newsletter.
- Ensuring patient information is user friendly and easily understood.
What we are looking for from our PPG
- We would like open and honest communication.
- We will be flexible, listen, ask for help and support each other.
- We will demonstrate a commitment to delivering results as a group.
- We will encourage all to speak up.
- We understand that all views are valid and will be listened to.
- We ask that no phones are switched on.