What is a patient Participation Group? (PPG)

It is a selection of patients and practice staff who meet at regular intervals to decide ways of making a positive contribution to the services and facilities offered by the practice to their patients. The group meets at regular intervals and is interested in the views of the patients.

Purpose of the PPG

• To give practice staff and patients the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest in the practice
• To provide the means for patients to make positive suggestions about the practice and their own health care
• To encourage health education activities within the practice
• To develop self-help projects to meet the needs of fellow patients
• To act as a representative group that can influence the local provision of health and social care

Membership of the group is voluntary and we would be interested to hear from you if you would like to get involved. You can express your interest in joining the PPG by completing the Patient Participation Group Registration form, leaving a note in the PPG box at reception or emailing the group on derby.ppg@nhs.net.

Areas of Work

• Providing feedback from patients, for example on appointment systems, consultation times, notice boards
• Health promotion such as diabetes awareness day, first aid training, ownership of your own healthcare
• Fundraising to fund group costs or equipment for the practice
• Information such as practice leaflets, newsletters, local facilities
• Healthcare information acting as a representative group that can influence the local provision of health and social care

Positive outcomes of PPGs

• Improving services provided by the surgery
• Carrying out surveys into a variety of subjects e.g. health needs/expectations and cause of ill health in a particular area
• Exploring the changing needs of patients
• Measuring patient satisfaction
• Gathering ideas for improvements or modifications needed for the delivery of services
• Discussion at meetings
• Improving facilities at the surgery such as fundraising for new furniture, toys or decorating
• General environmental improvements
• Better signs around the surgery