Patient Participation Group

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Come Join Us...

We would welcome you to come and join our Patient Participation Group so that you can support us with your suggestions to improve the services. The Patient Participation Group meets bi-monthly. We would like the group to represent our patient population to include some of the following: young people, workers, retirees, people with long-term conditions and people from non-British ethnic groups etc.

If you are interested in making a difference and support your local community Practice, please complete our PPG membership form and we will give you further information.

What is a Patient Participation Group?

This is a group of volunteer patients who are involved in making sure the surgery provides the services its patients need. Groups are not set up to be a “forum for moaners” but nor are they “doctors’ fan clubs”.

They are a route for patients to advise the practice on what matters most to patients and to identify solutions to problems. Members of PPGs should think about the wider patient interest and not just their own personal concerns when serving on the PPG.

Members of the group should act as a “critical friend” to the practice, helping it to understand what patients think about some of the issues such as opening hours, telephone systems, quality and convenience of access available services, patient experience of and so on to influence the services that we provide.

To some people this will seem rather daunting. But rest assured that PPGs across the country are doing these things and making a real difference. Choose the level of involvement that suits you best, whether as a discussion forum member or by answering questionnaires. It is all voluntary and every contribution is valued.

The Aims of the Patient Participation Group

• To give patients and practice staff the opportunity to meet and 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 action plans and help monitor improvements.
• To contribute feedback to the practice on Nation Patient Survey results and Friend and Family Test feedback to propose developments or change
• To support health awareness and patient education