About the Patient Participation Group (PPGs)

PPGs are about implementing real, positive change in their communities. Patients have long valued the relationship with their GP and general practice. However the dynamics of this relationship have changed over recent years – patients today rightly want more say in their own healthcare, they are better informed and expect to be treated as whole people, not just as a condition or ailment. 

PPGs have an increasingly important role to play in helping to give patients a say in the way services are delivered to best meet their needs, and the needs of the local community.

PPGs can help GPs to develop an equal partnership with their patients. They can help them to communicate accurately and honestly with individual patients, and with the wider community about key health matters. They can also help to reduce costs and improve services by identifying changes that the practice may not have considered, allowing resources to be used more efficiently. What is more, they can develop mutually supportive networks for patients and the practice, outside of individual appointments.

The first PPGs were established around 1972 by GPs in England and Wales. Since then the PPG movement has grown rapidly. Experience shows that successful practices and effective PPGs go hand in hand.

Forum Family Practice Patient Participation Group

Partners set up the Patients Participation Group (PPG) with the aim of involving patients in decisions about the range and quality of services provided by the surgery and giving patients an opportunity to express their views through a more formal channel.

The PPG continues to try to meet every 12 months although we do work together via our virtual online group more frequently.  Our role is part of the ongoing communication between patients and staff at the surgery and we want you to have a chance to voice your views on the service you receive in addition to keeping you abreast of changes to the healthcare provision for our community.

Interested in becoming a member? have a concern or suggestion to voice please contact Gail Yule, our Practice Manager who is the practice representative and is happy to be contacted with any queries you may have regarding the PPG.

The information you supply us will be used lawfully, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure that this information is handled properly.

Useful information on patient participation go to National Association of Patient Participation website 

SIGN UP TO THE PPG