Park View Surgery Patient Participation Group

Are you interested in finding out how to get involved in your practice?

We are expanding our Patient Participation Group and are looking for patients from all age groups, social and cultural backgrounds to join us.

We would like to hear about what YOU think works well or not so well in our practice

If you would like more information about the group please speak to one of the receptionists or a member of staff or click here to complete the online form or this downloadable form.

We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form. Please note that no medical information or questions will be responded to.

The Aims of the Patient Participation Group

“To work with their practice to provide practical support, to help patients take more responsibility for their own health and to provide strategic input and advice. PPGs are based on cooperation between the practice staff and patients”.

Purpose of a PPG

To give practice staff and patients the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest in their practice
A forum for patients and staff to improve and develop services within the practice by co-production
To provide an opportunity for patients to make positive suggestions/ideas about the practice and specific medical conditions as an ‘expert’ or ‘experienced patient’
To encourage health education activities within the practice
To involve further patients from the wider population
To involve patient participation in future commission of Health Provision

Benefits for the patient:

Patients will be more responsible for their own health
Patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice and its staff This allows up to date information to be given to patients and will inform what decisions can be influenced and what cannot. It will also allow the practice staff to gain an understanding from the patient’s perspective. It may also be useful for the chair to have meetings with the Practice Manager on a regular basis or attend management meetings of the practice. This ensures that two way communication is achieved.
Patients will have a forum to suggest positive ideas and voice concerns
Patients will benefit from improved communications between patients and staff

Benefits for the practice:

GPs and their staff will be able to plan services jointly with patients in order to increase their effectiveness
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

Being Representative

A common criticism of many PPGs is that they are not representative of the practice population. It is always going to be difficult to get a group that exactly reflects the demographics of our practice, and volunteer roles tend to attract those that have a certain level of confidence and free time, and have flexibility about working and earning money. However, a PPG is there to make sure that the patient voice is listened to and not necessarily always to be the voice itself. Therefore if you wish to volunteer please contact the General Manager of complete one of the forms in reception.

Ground Rules

These are important as a point of reference for behaviour for when the group meets, and were agreed at the first couple of meetings. We agreed that the group should not be a forum for pursuing individual personal complaints, that patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance and that everyone on the PPG should be treated fairly, equally and with respect.

We are striving to have a mix of the following people:

Active volunteers - people with time and commitments to action decisions
Interested professionals - the doctors and administrative staff who work within and know the system and can be co-opted onto the group as required
Key supporters - people with influence within your locality, e.g. local councillors or business people who help raise the profile of the group, and improve the chances of your group finding financial or other forms of support