The Patient Participation Group (PPG) is designed to:
- Develop a partnership with patients
- Discover what patients think about services and to establish their priorities
- Provide a platform to test and modify ideas and plans
What is a PPG?
Each PPG is unique. Its evolving to meet local needs and it works with the practice to:
- Offer patient perspective on services provided by the practice
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of services
- Foster improved communication between the practice and its patients
- Help patients to take more responsibility for their health
- Provide practical support and help to implement change
PPGs are good for patients because:
- Patients will be more responsible for their own health
- Patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice, staff, services
- 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:
- The practice will be able to plan services in order to increase effectiveness
- They will be able to help patients with non-medical and social care issues
- 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
How we operate
The current group are contacted 3-4 times each year to ask questions about the Practice, how we might make improvements and ensure any changes that the Practice makes, are patient focussed. Patients in the group have responded to questionnaires and contributed to Care Quality Commission inspections of our services. We are potentially looking to expand this by introducing a couple of virtual Teams meetings each year.
Common Questions and Answers
Why are you asking people for their contact details?
We would like to be able to contact people occasionally to ask them questions about the practice and how well we are doing to identify areas for improvement.
Will the questions you ask me be medical or personal?
We will only ask general questions about the practice, such as short questionnaires.
Who else will be able to access my contact details?
Your contact details will be kept safely and securely and will only be used for this purpose and will not be shared with anyone else.
How often will you contact me?
Not very often…..… up to 3-4 times a year.
What if I no longer wish to be on the PPG list or I leave the practice?
We will ask you to let us know by email if you do not wish to receive further messages. If you leave the practice, you will automatically be removed from our PPG.