PPG - patient participation group fact finder analysis

Many PPGs support their GP surgery through running health promotion events, engaging with the patient population, providing a mechanism for patients to feedback to their surgery, implementing changes at the surgery and creating links with other PPGs in the area to help maximise impact. The report investigates , by volunteers attending 12 GP practice PPG meetings, whether these principles work in practice and what makes an effective PPG and in particular considers:

What makes a successful PPG,

What were/are the barriers to setting up a PPG,

How were these barriers overcome,

What additional resource would help your PPG run more effectively,

What changes have been implemented due to PPG involvement in your surgery,

How involved are the Practice Staff in the PPG.

In particular it was found that commitment and enthusiasm from members of the PPG group and a strong chairperson, commitment and support of surgery staff and recognition that the PPG can add value to the service provided by the practice are important to the success of a PPG.

Recruiting a diverse demographic of people to attend the group to obtain a cross sectional view of the surgeries patients is typically one of their largest difficulties.

Some groups have overcome this by having a virtual PPG3 that runs alongside face to face group meetings.

Branding an identity for the PPG and use of social media – help setting up Facebook/Twitter etc., networking/best practice sharing can help the PPGs to function more effectively.

Changes to opening times, changes / improvements to the phone system, newsletters, helping at the Flu Clinic, patient education events and awareness raising are some examples of changes that have been made following PPG involvement.

All the surgeries we visited felt they had good support from practice staff, with (on most occasions) someone from the surgery attending the meetings.