Attleborough Surgeries has invited a number of patients to form a Patient Participation Group (PPG) which aims to support the doctors and staff by providing a patient voice into the decision making and development of the practice. The Government wants patients to have more involvement in the how healthcare is delivered and PPGs are seen as a significant way of providing that involvement.

Initially, the Attleborough Surgeries PPG will look at 4 main areas:

1. Consulting with the practice on service development and provision.
2. Providing feedback on patients’ needs, concerns and interests.
3. Assisting the flow of information between the practice and the community (and vice versa) which may affect healthcare provision.
4. Examining other ways in which patients could have a say in the organisation of their healthcare.

The future

These are very early days and we are still working out how the PPG will provide a constructive forum.  As well as developing the 4 main areas we have identified over the next few months, we shall be examining the composition of the Group to make sure all sectors of the community are represented and that we have the expertise we need to make the initiative a success.