Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Patient Group

Patient participation is:

Patients working with a practice to:

  • contribute to the continuous improvement of services;
  • faster improved communication between the practice and its patients;
  • help patients to take more responsiblity for their health; and
  • provide practical support and help to implement change

Patient Participation Groups can:

  • offer feedback on the patient perspective;
  • help practices to make the most effective use of their resources;
  • improve communication;
  • help to promote good health;
  • influence decisions about which services are provided; and
  • offer practical support to the practice

Patient participation is not:

  • a forum for complaints
 

What can a Patient Participation Group do?

PPGs are voluntary organisations, helping the practice to improve services

  • Acting as a representative group that can be called on to influence the local provision of health and social care
  • Providing feedback from patients, eg on appointment systems, consultation times and repeat prescription systems
  • Monitoring the accessibility of practice communications
  • Carrying out surveys into a whole variety of subjects, eg measuring patient satisfaction, health needs, awareness and expectations
  • Helping to obtain the patient view
  • Exploring the changing needs of patients

If you would like to join the Patient Participation Group, please click here

 

What are the benefits of a PPG?

Good for the community because:

  • patients will have an organisation through which they can identify their own needs
  • patients will be able to get an idea of what is needed to improve healthcare and make sure that the patient view is always represented

Good for patients because:

  • patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice and its staff
  • if appropriate, patients will be consulted about arrangements for their primary healthcare before decisions are made
  • patients will benefit from improved communications with staff
  • patients will have a forum to suggest positive ideas and voice concerns

Good for practice staff because:

  • GPs and their staff will be able to plan services jointly with patients in order to increase their effectiveness
  • 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
  • they will get closer to the community for whom they care
If you would like to join the Patient Participation Group, please click here