Haringey Patient Participation Group (PPG) Conference Report – 2021

Healthwatch Haringey ran a Patient Participation Group (PPG) development project in 2020/21. This included developing resources, training and webpages to provide GP practices and PPGs with support to set up and run an effective PPG. Healthwatch Haringey also held PPG network meetings to bring together PPG chairs and PPG members from Haringey GP practices to share ideas, experiences and good practice, and to work together on common challenges.

Healthwatch Haringey held an online Haringey PPG Conference on Saturday 19 June 2021. The Conference was an opportunity for PPG chairs and PPG members in GP practices across Haringey to further develop links; share experiences, resources, and skills; and discuss the most relevant issues and challenges facing primary care at this time. This Conference report documents the topics explored at the Conference, the discussions held, and makes recommendations for improvement.

Over 55 people attended the Conference, representing 18 Haringey GP practices, roughly half the number of GP practices in Haringey. Of the 60 people who registered for the Conference in advance, 46 were Haringey patients (24 were PPG members), four were GP Practice staff (three Practice Managers and an Operations Manager) and two were GPs (including a Managing Partner).

Key themes at the conference were:

• The impact of COVID19 on access to GP services and on the NHS in general
• Changes to the way GP services are delivered including US health insurance corporations in primary care and the introduction of Integrated Care Systems
• The need to address inequality in access to services provided by the NHS, Voluntary and Community Sector and Haringey Council.
• The importance of PPGs in helping to support and scrutinise GP services.

The report makes 3 recommendations:

1. Haringey PPG network should make a representation to the ICS Chair to raise the issue of member representation and ask for meetings.
2. Practice staff should be open to patient feedback, helping to organise and facilitate PPG meetings, and making sure patient voice is heard.
3. Carers and service users’ voices should be at the table as experts by experience.