Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in GP surgeries

A PPG is a group of patients interested in health and healthcare issues, who want to get involved with and support the running of their local GP Practice. Most Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) also include members of practice staff, and meet at regular intervals to decide ways and means of making a positive contribution to the services and facilities offered by the practice to its patients.

Many of the GP practices in the NHS Norfolk area have a PPG. If you would like to find out about joining your local PPG or how to set up one at your surgery, please contact Laura McCartney-Gray on 01603 257091 or email: Laura.McCartney-Gray@norfolk.nhs.uk or take a look at our Step By Step Guide.

View all the PPGs in NHS Norfolk.

Patient involvement in health is currently a high priority in the NHS. With the transition to GP commissioning this will become more and more important to practices. Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) based around surgeries can be a good way to establish a positive line of communication with patients. Many practices have considered starting PPGs but have been unsure about taking the first step.

As a result NHS Norfolk has commissioned the production of a short film on the benefits of having a PPG seen from the point of view of both practice staff and patients. To view this video on the NHS Norfolk YouTube channel.

Work by NHS Norfolk on involving patients to be used as a national template

A new guide to involving patients in decision-making has been written with significant input from NHS Norfolk and is now set to be launched nationwide....more

A Step by Step Guide to PPG: A National Resource

Does your practice want to start a Patient Participation Group?

Does your practice have a group that needs promotion or new ideas?
The NHS Norfolk Step By Step Guide to Setting Up a Patient Participation Group (PPG) offers support and practical guidance to staff in General Practice and patients, who are interested in getting more involved with their local healthcare by setting up PPG.

PPGs are seen as a significant way of involving people in local healthcare decision-making, and the guide gives practical step by step ideas on how to get going. It is also an overview on how NHS Norfolk will support the development of new PPGs, and help existing groups breathe new life into the work they do.

Click here for the Step By Step Guide.

Tell us about your PPG

To complete the survey to map existing PPGs mentioned in the PPG Information Exchange Issue 1 please click on one of the following links:

PPG Contacts and Information Form (online form)

PPG Contacts and Information Form (MS Word version)

National Association of Patient Participation (NAPP)

NHS Norfolk is an affiliated member of NAPP, which is a registered charity that since 1978 has fostered the establishment of several hundreds of PPGs in primary care throughout the UK. It is apolitical and has supported many changes which benefit patients through a number of governments. Its work is driven largely by volunteers, especially its Board members, with a small amount of paid project management and office administration support.

PPGs can also become members of NAPP. To find out more about NAPP and the benefits of membership visit: www.napp.org.uk