What is a Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Put simply, Patient Participation refers to patients taking an active interest in their health care providers. Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) operate within GP surgeries and health centres. Priorities are developed and agreed locally in order to meet local needs and to reflect the interests and commitment of the participants.
PPGs play an important role in informing the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) via a Clinical Reference Committee made up of GP representatives for each locality in a region about the patient’s perspective on the quality, availability and provision of services.
The Stag Medical Centre and Rose Court Surgery PPG
The PPG was launched at the end of 2011 after the practice manager requested patients to register their interest in forming a PPG.
Our aim is to give a patient’s perspective on the services that are provided.
We represent all patients at both the Stag Medical Centre and Rose Court surgery. Group members were recruited through expressions of interest publicised in the two surgeries. Along with representatives of the practice team we currently meet monthly. We act as a “critical friend” and are an important point of contact between patients and the practice. The PPG has begun to break down barriers and improve communication and information sharing between patients and the GP practice.
We have established a real opportunity for patients to influence decisions about which services are provided, how they are provided, and how the practice is run.
Our PPG is gathering momentum. We now have an email list of over 60 members of a virtual PPG and regularly have up 12 members who meet face to face on a monthly basis. Our working relationship with the Practice Manager is excellent and acts as a conduit to the practice partners and staff on all issues raised within the meetings. We need to reach as many of the practice population we can who are classed as hard to reach groups by virtue of the health issues they live with.
The PPG can be contacted via email on ppg.stagmedical@gmail.com or by writing to the “Chair of the PPG” at the Stag Medical Centre, 162 Wickersley Road, Rotherham, S60 4JW
Latest News
Our reputation within Rotherham has extended to supporting the setting up of a PPG Network for Rotherham. This initiative is the beginning of new ways of working with the Clinical Reference Committees but more importantly it will offer and provide support for other GP Practices in Rotherham where the formation of PPGs is in its infancy. In turn the Rotherham PPG Network will enable the GP Practice population of Rotherham to have a voice on the provision of health care services.