FOREST VIEW

Patient Participation Group

Introduction to Forest View Patient Practitioner Group

Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are made up of volunteers interested in healthcare issues which meet to decide ways and means of making a positive contribution to the services and facilities offered by the surgery to patients.

They are an excellent way for practices to keep in touch with the patient perspective and improve the patient experience. They can also help to influence the commissioning of services and support the practice through more practical ways like fundraising or organising support groups.

Please note FVPPG is not a forum for individual complaints or for single issue campaigns.

The Benefits of joining Forest View Patient Participation Group

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 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.

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Sign up

All PPGs are different and recruit members in different ways, but we as a group are keen to hear from interested individuals. It’s a requirement to be registered at the practice to become a member.

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Two’s company

If you’re nervous about going alone, why not encourage a friend to go with you? We have limited places available on our group, but welcome interested patients who wish to contribute.

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Take action

We meet on a regular basis at Forest View surgery itself to give patients, GPs and practice staff an opportunity to meet, to exchange ideas and information, and then to take action.

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Share your ideas

Be prepared to give your opinion about the way the practice is run, and any thoughts you have on how things could be improved – from the welcome patients get when they arrive at the practice, to the parking facilities or the appointments systems, the group and the practice will be keen to hear your views.

How to Join Forest View PPG

If you’re interested in having a say in the way your local health services are delivered, getting involved with FVPPG is a great place to start.

No training is required to be a member of the PPG – the most important thing is that you are keen and focused on taking positive action to help the practice and the local patient population.

All PPGs are different, but generally involvement tends to include attendance at monthly, bimonthly or quarterly meetings. Some PPG members will choose to take on additional roles that are more time consuming, such as Chair and Vice Chair, Secretary or even editing/contributing to the FVPPG newsletter or this new website as we develop and setting up and running health education or fundraising events, but if you have less time available, this isn’t a requirement.

Not only can joining FVPPG help to shape the delivery of local services, but many members also find that volunteering is a great way to meet new people and develop your own skills, becoming a member can help shape how Forest View develops services to the local community. We have previously helped and encouraged patients to complete a Forest View patient survey and aim to assist further in gauging the views of Forest View patients to better help the surgery improve and grow its services. We also will be assisting with events to assist in raising funds for the Air Ambulance service on behalf and with Forest View Partners and we will be looking at doing future events to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in the near future.

If you are interested in getting involved, below are some simple steps to get you started:

Speak to A FVPPG Member: Ask at your local GP surgery or look out for information and posters about the group in the surgery, or ask the reception staff or the practice manager, who is likely to be involved in running the group.
Please email: Mr. Paul Russell Chair FVPPG at chairfvppg@gmail.com
Or Mr. Terri Lewis at vchairfvppg@gmail.com for information on how to join the PPG

On Behalf of the FVPPG

Chair
Paul Russell