Patient participation groups

What is a patient participation group

A patient participation group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors and staff.

The development of the PPG is down to the individual GP practice and they become responsible for all aspects of its functionality, from timescales, to membership, to roles and responsibilities. Each practice has information about their PPG and how to join on their local website.

There are a number of ways a PPG can benefit their local GP surgery. These include:

  • advising the practice on the patient perspective
  • organising health promotion events
  • communicating with patients
  • running volunteer services and support groups to meet local needs
  • carrying out research into the views of people who use the practice (and their carers)
  • influencing the practice or the wider NHS to improve commissioning
  • fundraising to improve the services provided by the practice

Videos

Truro Health Park PPG meet for a cuppa and a cake
Carnon Down Surgery PPG talk about the importance of patient groups in the surgeries
Carnon Downs PPG talk about what healthcare in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly means to them.
Attendees at St Agnes PPG talk about the importance of patient groups in the surgeries

Page last reviewed: 6 July 2022

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