Patient Participation Group

What is a Patient Participation Group?

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors and staff.

The NHS requires every practice to have a PPG.

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) consists of volunteer patients who work with the practice manager and clinicians at the practice, in order to support and promote the best possible health care for all patients at the practice.

Why should I join?

Your experiences matter and you can bring different ideas to the surgery to help us treat patients better or to improve what we do in some way.

You will also gain a better understanding of the NHS, and gather feedback from other patients.

The PPG acts as the patients’ “voice” in seeking to influence healthcare decisions made at the practice.  You’ll help us ask the right questions in a regular survey of our patients, and once we have the answers we will develop a plan of action to improve anything highlighted as needing action.

As a member of the group, you will then agree to the plan.

Membership will not take up a lot of your time – you will only be contacted a few times a year – but it is an important part of ensuring that the patients can have their say in the running of the practice.

What is a virtual group?

Communication will mostly be ‘virtual’ and this means that we will send you emails and maybe some SMS with information or questions in.

Information such as practice newsletters and surveys will be shared electronically. It means that if you are caring for someone and are unable to leave them, or are working, you can still be kept informed, give your views and participate.

Will my views be heard?

Your views are important and will be listened to. It may not be possible to act on every suggestion, but all feedback is very valuable.

Working in a spirit of mutual respect, openness and trust, all patients’ views will be discussed and, where appropriate, we will work together on solutions.  

The Patients Association

We are a long established, independent advice and campaigning charity.  We also undertake project work with health and social care organisations to ensure the patient voice is heard and improvements are made. We offer support and advice to individual patients/ forums and groups. Phone or email our helpline.

You can also follow us on Twitter @PatientsAssoc.

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