Patient participation groups (PPGs) are now an integral part of GP practices up and down the country. Indeed, in April 2016 it became a contractual requirement for all English practices to form a patient participation group (PPG) within 12 months and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.

That widespread use of PPGs is a far cry from 1972 when an enterprising GP decided to reach out to patients for their thoughts on new initiatives within their practice, in the process creating the first ever group.

Since then, plenty of different ideas surrounding PPGs have been introduced and, in many ways, the beauty of PPGs is that there is no set way in which they work. The aims and work of each group entirely depends on local needs, but all have the aim of ensuring that their practice puts the patient, and improving health, at the heart of everything it does.

In practice, PPGs can play a number of roles, including:

• Advising the practice on the patient perspective
• Organising health promotion events
• Communicating with the wider patient body
• Running volunteer services and support groups to meet local needs
• Carrying out research into the views of those who use the practice (and their carers)
• Influencing the practice or the wider NHS to improve commissioning
• Fundraising to improve the services provided by the practice

Virtual reality

Today, as PPGs become commonplace, technology is beginning to take over as the number of ‘virtual PPGs’ rises.

We’re not talking about compiling a list of email addresses and using them to solicit responses – virtual PPGs are fully functioning platforms that allow question and answer sessions, forums, polls and much, much more. Available either through specialist platforms, such as myPPG, or via generic commercial software, virtual PPGs are an effective way for practices to reach out to patient groups that perhaps wouldn’t normally participate in ‘traditional’ forums – and get them involved in the conversation.

As an online service they’re available 24/7, allowing those who can’t always attend meetings – such as single mums, younger people, shift workers – to have a voice. Those who lack the confidence to voice their opinions in a group meeting set-up can also contribute more easily with the perceived anonymity that internet forums offer.

One practice manager told us: “We were well aware that the majority of our PPG contributors were all of similar age and gender. We wanted to attract younger people, those who couldn’t make it to the practice so easily and ethnic minorities because we have a duty to deliver effective care for all. So, we looked around for ideas and came across the idea of an internet-based PPG.

“So far we’ve doubled the number of people regularly contributing their views and we now have more younger people and more males on board. Interestingly, we’ve seen lots of interest from the young male Asian population and altogether we have been prompted to think about our care differently. We’ve already made changes such as amending our opening hours – we’ve shifted our afternoon surgery times so that we start and finish later – on the back of feedback.”

Short and sweet

Another hugely useful feature of virtual PPGs is the ability for practices to quickly add polls and questionnaires to their forum. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients are much more likely to respond if they’re answering specific questions or short questionnaires than when they’re asked to provide open comments. Using this handy function, practices can hold quick straw polls about potential changes to services or the introduction of new ideas.

Marketing mix

Just as ‘physical’ PPGs won’t necessarily attract a broad cross-section of patients, it should be noted that the same may apply to a virtual PPG. But, side-by-side, the two can bring real benefits and deliver a true cross-section of views and ideas that will boost your practice and make management easier.

———————————-

Trending topics in the forum:

Assisting with baby imms clinic…
Labelling of Lloyd Georges
Vaccinations for new GP – who is responsible?