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CQC Rating Good
Patient Participation Group (PPG)
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
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