A number of GP practices in Rotherham have Patient Participation Groups (PPGs). These are groups of patients who have an interest in healthcare issues,who work with practice staff to support and improve local services. PPGs may also work together  to influence wider issues, and to share good practice and ideas.

There is not set way in which they work - the aims and work of each group entirely depends on local needs - but they have the aim of making sure that their practice puts the patient, and improving health, at the heart of everything it does.

 

The Role of PPGs

The main aims and areas of work include:

• Organising (running the group, and the group’s activities). As much as possible the group should function without the involvement of staff; however the support of the practice is vital.

• Helping to identify issues that practices can resolve, through engaging with a representative section of the whole practice population.

• Acting as a critical friend to the practice.

• Helping the practice deliver change.

• Helping to identify potential problems, through acting as an ‘early warning’.

• Working with the practice to help design local surveys, and promoting these.

• Offering a way for practice staff and patients to discuss topics of mutual interest.

• Helping patients to take responsibility for their own health; through raising awareness of conditions and help available.

• Developing self-help activities such as condition specific support groups.

• Supporting campaigns and self-help.

• Acting as a representative group that can influence local provision, through highlighting wider issues.

• Participating in the wider patient and public engagement structure to allow experiences, views or concerns to reach decision makers.

• Sharing good practice and ideas.

• Improving communication between practices, the wider patient population, the community and the commissioning process.

 

Contact:

For more information or for details on how you can get involved please contact:

Helen Wyatt
Patient and Public Engagement Manager
Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group
Oak House
Moorhead Way
Bramley
Rotherham
S66 1YY

Email:  helen.wyatt6@nhs.net