The Patient Participation Group (PPG)
How patients help shape the services offered at the practice
The JHP Patient Participation Group
Did you know that your voice as a patient can play a role in shaping and planning the services JHP offers?
Our Patient Participation Group, a voluntary patient and carer group which meets regularly with JHP staff, does just that.
We share ideas, concerns, give feedback, act as a critical friend, and help make the practice better for everyone.
What is a Patient Participation Group?
A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet together to discuss patients’ experiences of the GP services. It gives patients a voice in how improvements can be made.
Every practice must have a PPG and Jesmond Health Partnership Practice Participation Group (JHP PPG), wants to represent the needs of all the registered patients as effectively as possible.
What is a PPG for?
The PPG is a ‘critical friend’ to the practice. The PPG can challenge and question the practice, give constructive feedback about how services are seen by the patients and what matters most to them.
It can work with both patients and the practice to identify problems and solutions.
What does a PPG do?
The PPG represents the patient’s voice in decision making, and ensures that everyone’s views are represented. They work to improve communications between the practice and the patients.
Patients can influence how practices are run by identifying problems and encouraging improvements leading to better services.
PPGs provide a setting where the practice can plan services jointly with patients to increase their effectiveness.
PPGs carry out all sorts of activities to support their practice. For example
- surveys and consultations about patients’ experiences
- making suggestions for change
- promoting and supporting practice activities such as the annual flu vaccination campaign
- patient information sessions about how services work, and how to use them effectively
- a quarterly PPG newsletter to keep patients informed
A PPG is not
- just a ‘talking shop’ – the group is proactive in dealing with problems and their resolution
- the place for personal complaints. Individual complaints should be discussed with the practice. The practice has a full complaints procedure.
- a place to promote other businesses or services
Contact the PPG
If you want to get in touch with the PPG, you can:
- Email jhp.ppg@gmail.com and we will get back to you.
- leave a note with your contact details at the reception in any of the surgeries, clearly marked PPG.
Please note that all communication will be treated as confidential and held securely under data protection rules.
Please do not use this email address to request medical advice.
Join the PPG
Our PPG has two levels of membership:
Full Membership
Open to patients over 18, carers, and practice staff. Members get a quarterly newsletter, can join events and surveys, attend meetings, and share ideas with the Committee.
Friends Membership
Friends receive the quarterly newsletter and can share feedback with the Committee. They can apply to become full members at any time.