Best Practice Guide Introduction
A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to help improve the service.
Since April 2015, it has been a contractual requirement of NHS England for all GP practices to have a PPG and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.
This Best Practice Guide has been designed to assist GP practices and patients in setting up and maintaining a PPG to improve services for the whole of their GP practice population.
What is a Patient Participation Group (PPG)?
Patient Participation Group Definition
A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to improve the service.
Purpose of a PPG:
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 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.
What should a PPG look like?
A PPG is open to every patient on the GP practice list. All communities, groups, genders, ages, ethnicities, and disabilities representing the patient list are encouraged to join. There are no other membership requirements except that patients must be registered with the practice.
Our meetings are quarterly and we’d happily welcome new members. If you are interested in joining our friendly and active group please contact the surgery on LIWCCG.willinghamsurgery.co.uk
