Who's at the table? Exploring representation and effectiveness in Trafford's Patient Participation Groups

Healthwatch Trafford decided to look at Representation in Patient Participation Groups (PPGs), as these groups act as a bridge between the community and GP practices. As such, ensuring a diversity of voices is heard and understood enables service planning which meets the needs of the local community. This project investigated representation within PPGs in Trafford, focusing on whether members felt their groups accurately reflected the demographics of their patient populations. 

Research was conducted across all 27 GP practices in Trafford, combining desk-based research with two targeted surveys - one for GP practice staff and one for patients. Initial desk research suggested that most practices had active PPGs. However, survey responses revealed that many members felt that their groups lacked diversity, with a largely homogenised membership of retired individuals. This was seen as limiting both representativeness and overall impact. 

Members also expressed that their roles within the PPG were not as impactful as they had hoped, citing the absence of a clear agenda, formal guidelines, or structured objectives for how the group should operate. Staff feedback similarly highlighted challenges in engaging younger and underrepresented patient groups. 

Overall, the findings indicate that while PPGs in Trafford are active in principle, there is a need for clearer operational frameworks, more inclusive recruitment strategies, and stronger engagement to ensure PPGs function as effective, representative voices for the whole patient population.