Patient Participation Group

Thank you to those patients who have kindly volunteered their services to sit on our Patient Participation Group (PPG).

Patient involvement is now a high priority in the NHS. NHS England is committed to working and engaging with patients, carers and the public in a wide range of ways. Ensuring that people’s views are heard at all levels and across all parts of the healthcare system is essential for creating and delivering better health and care services.

What is the purpose of the PPG?

Patient participation is about patients and practices working together. It aims to bring about positive change to the benefit of all patients and practice staff.

What does the PPG do?

Each PPG is unique, evolving to meet local needs. It is made up of patients, doctors and other practice staff who communicate at regular intervals to consider ways of making a positive contribution to the services and facilities offered by the practice to its’ patients. We offer our opinion, advice and assistance on how the practice can provide the best possible service to patients. We work both collectively and individually. We work together in partnership with the practice to ascertain the views of patients and represent those views, obtaining patient feedback, and help improve services provided by the practice.

Our aims are to:

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of services
• Foster improved communication between the practice and its’ patients
• Provide information updates to patients through newsletters
• Carry out research into the views of those who use the practice
• Listen and act upon patient views (where possible)
• Help patients to take greater responsibility for their own and their family’s health
• Provide practical support and help to implement change
• Information leaflets on the voluntary services available in the area, displayed in the reception area

The PPG is not a:

• Practice Management Committee; we do not interfere with the Practice’s management decisions or its day-to-day running
• Forum for complaints
• Vehicle for individuals to voice personal interests, resolve personal issues or to get additional personal medical service
• Doctor’s fan club

Membership of the PPG:

It is important that the membership of the PPG is representative of the practice population. Northdown Surgery has a diverse patient population with patients of different ages and a wide variety of different needs. To be truly representative, we would welcome more volunteers, particularly from under-represented patient demographics.

Join the Patient Group

Please contact the surgery if you would like to obtain a paper form.