What is a Patient Participation Group (PPG)?
Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who communicate to discuss practice issues and patient experience to improve the service.
Purpose of a PPG:
- To give patients and practice staff the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest.
- To provide a means for patients to become more involved and make suggestions about the healthcare services they receive.
- To explore issues from patient complaints and patient surveys, contribute to actions plans and help monitor improvements.
- To contribute feedback to the practice on National Patient Survey results and Friends and Family Test feedback to propose developments or change.
- To support health awareness and patient education.
PPG Virtual:
The practice will be setting up a virtual group for patients who want to contribute to improving services in the practice, but cannot attend face to face meetings. Set up an email address specifically for PPG members, which is used to communicate with patients and keeping them updated with any changes happening in the practice.
Members should be asked regularly to provide comments and suggestions over email, just as they would in a face to face group.
If this is something you wish to take part in, please contact the surgery or reply to this email and I will add your name to the list. It is important for me and the practice to get patients / carers and families’ feedback on the practice, even if it’s something we are doing well. We are always looking to improve the service we provide to our patients especially in the current situation.
Thank you for your support
Patient Participation Group (PPG) – New Members Needed
I joined the PPG some 6 month ago, and have attended three group sessions and have found them most interesting. Discussions are most definitely not one sided, we are encouraged to express our point of view, and I found quite surprisingly intently listened to and some are taken on board.
We are given details of proposed upcoming practice changes and we are asked to comment on them. If I may loosely sum up our involvement, we are:
A platform to develop a patient partnership with the practice
Establish what patients think about the practice services and establish priorities and modify them from a patient’s perspective.
We are a platform to test and modify the practice ideas and plans.
In my opinion the PPG is a positive process but requires enthusiasm in order to achieve all the potential benefits for both the practice and patients.
I would encourage patients to think about becoming a member of the PPG, you will be made most welcome. We meet for one hour (approx.) every two months and there is no compulsion to attend – Give it a Try!
Mr Foster