Patient Participation Group (PPG)

The Patient Participation Group meets when we were closed for staff training. If you would like to become a member of the Virtual Patient Participation Group (VPPG), please get in touch. As member of the VPPG, we would approach you via email to seek your ideas, suggestions and feedback on issues raised by a member of the PPG or VPPG.

The Core PPG should normally not exceed twenty members but, in the interest of diversity and being representative of our patient population, this could be reviewed and adjusted depending on interest. 

We would love to hear your suggestions, even if you don't want to be a member of the PPG or VPPG. Please direct these to Rachel, our Operations Manager, and she will raise them with the PPG.

If you would like to become a member of the VPPG, please download and complete this form, then either print it off and return it to the surgery or email it to us at fenhamhallmedicalgroupa86031@nhs.net

VPPG Application Form

What is a Patient Participation Group?

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to help improve the service. 

PPGs work in partnership with their practice to:

• help patient to take more responsibility for their health
• contribute to the continuous improvement of services and quality of care
• foster improved communication between the practice and its patients
• provide practical support for the practice and help to implement change
  

As a PPG member you have an opportunity to contribute your views about how the practice is running and meeting patients’ needs. It is fine to be a topic ‘champion’ (e.g., diabetes issues, or elderly care) – topic experts make a very valuable contribution, and it is also important to be able to contribute across a range of issues. The PPG deals with common issues that affect patients so your personal experience will be useful if it helps to illustrate a wider point. 

You can also work with the PPG to speak to other patients and carers at the surgery, or to listen to their views (e.g., by looking at survey results), giving you information that you can then bring into PPG discussions. You might want to suggest ‘agenda’ items.

You can be an effective PPG member by keeping up to date with local health issues, if you are able. You could take up opportunities to develop an understanding of the structure of the NHS and the place of PPGs place within it.

Your views are valuable, so express them clearly and without apology, whilst respecting others.

Who can join a PPG?

Anyone over the age of 16 who is registered at the practice can join.  

We currently have a full core group which is representative of our patient population and will meet on a regular basis. If you are interested in becoming a member of this group, please get in touch and we will add your name to our list to contact in future as and when a space becomes available.

Purpose of a PPG

The purpose of the PPG is:

• To give patients and service staff the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest.
• To provide a way for patients to become more involved and make suggestions about healthcare services they receive.
• To explore issues from patient complaints and patient surveys, contribute to action plans and help monitor service improvements.
• To review existing service feedback from NHS Choices and friends and family surveys and propose developments or change.
• To support health awareness and wider patient education.

The PPG is not a forum to raise individual complaints as there is another avenue for this, nor to seek medical advice.

A PPG is a critical friend to the practice, giving feedback about GP services and changes that are made. PPGs can inspire positive change - for example, a PPG could give feedback to help staff make the appointments system work better. A PPG can also help provide information on what services are available to patients, and it can organise health promotion events and social activities.

The following ground rules apply to all of the meetings

• No phones or other disruptions
• Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated
• PPG is not a forum for individual complaints
• Respect is to be given to patient confidentiality at all times
• All members to demonstrate a commitment to the group
• All views are important and should be listened to
• Be flexible, listen, ask for help and support each other.
• Open and honest communication applies to all
• Start and finish meetings on time and stick to the agenda
• Silence indicates agreement- speak up if you would like your suggestions to be part of the meeting

We have had an active PPG since 2011 and the practice has continued to work closely with the patient members to ensure that it is able to seek the views of its patients and as part of Newcastle Bridges Clinical Commissioning Group that patients can have a say on how healthcare is provided.

Click here to read the Annual Report 2014

Click here to read the Survey Results & Action Plan 2014

PPG Website Report March 2015

Since 2011 we have met with our patient group on a face to face basis but over the last 6 months the membership of our group has dwindled and was no longer representative of our patient demographic. A decision was made with the remaining members that we would establish a “virtual” group and correspond with members via email.

We will ask the members of this representative group some questions from time to time, such as what you think about our opening times or the quality of the care or service you received. We will contact you via email and keep our surveys succinct so it shouldn’t take too much of your time.

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

Many thanks for your assistance.

The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the GDPR (GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION) of May 2018 and Data Protection Act 1998. The GDPR (GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION) of May 2018 and Date Protection Act of 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out the rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.

Outcome of PPG Meetings

Action Plan 8/3/2023