We want to ensure patients, their families and carers are represented and heard from at all stages of their treatment. Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are generally made up of a group of volunteer patients, the practice manager and one or more of the GPs from a practice. PPGs meet to discuss the services on offer, and how improvements can be made for the benefit of patients and the practice.

The beauty of PPGs is that there is no set way in which they work - the aims and work of each group entirely depends on local needs - but they all have the aim of making sure that their practice puts the patient, and improving health, at the heart of everything it does.

Littlefield's PPG has been well established for many years. We hold a total of four meetings a year: two are Practice Specific and two are PCN wide Meetings meetings.

For further details about the group please contact the practice.

Minutes

• 20 August 2024 Minutes

Why Have a PPG?

Patient participation can benefit both patients and practices. Having a PPG creates a connection between the practice and its patients; allowing open, constructive discussion and analysis of service provision and offering an alternative perspective on many of the topics relevant to general practice.

A PPG is a mechanism which at different times can represent the patient population to the practice and the practice to the wider community. PPGs can help the practice to account for its provision of healthcare through various mechanisms, with the outcomes being used to improve the quality and level of healthcare services and facilities.

What do PPGs do?

PPGs can give you an involvement with your practice and could give you a say in the workings of the Care Trust. These are some examples of what the group could be expected to be involved with:

• consult and plan with patients whenever possible on the facilities and provision of services
• bring a sense of ownership and partnership between practice staff and patients
• give practice staff and patients the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest
• allow patients to make positive suggestions about the practice and their own healthcare
• develop self-help projects to meet the needs of fellow patients
• act as a representative group that can be called upon to influence the local provision of health and social care.

For further information on PPGs visit the NAPP website

How Can You Help?

If you think you would like to be part of our Group and be able to influence the future of your healthcare provision or would like more information about our PPG, please contact the practice.