Patient Participation Group

What is a patient participation group (PPG)?

A patient participation group (PPG) is a group of patients and GP practice staff who meet regularly and work together to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients.

PPGs can bring significant benefits to a GP practice: improving services, allowing resources to be used more efficiently and, most importantly, developing mutually supportive networks (outside the GP or nurse appointment). Groups help the practice to develop services that reflect what patients need and want.

PPG members are all volunteers who are advocates for the practice and the services it provides. A thriving PPG is increasingly viewed as an indicator of a high-quality caring practice. Effective PPGs strengthen the relationship between patients and practice staff which is critical to the provision of modern, high quality general practice.

Riverside Surgery PPG

The Riverside Surgery PPG was formed in August 2010. It is currently made up of seven members, all of whom are patients of the practice and give their time on a voluntary basis. The group meets once every couple of months and the PPG is made up of a Chairman and members.

The aims of the PPG are as follows:

• To encourage a positive relationship between patients and all of the surgery staff.
• To represent a voice for the patient in the practice.
• To work together constructively and positively to help identify solutions, and to work in partnership with the practice and other local organisations.
• To carry out research on what matters to patients and share the findings with the practice.
• To be involved in health promotion events.
• To encourage patients to engage in their own healthcare and future needs.

Will my views be heard?

Your views on how we can achieve the aims above are important and will be listened to. The PPG seek your views through surveys and collate feedback to make sure the practice knows what you are thinking. If you feel that there are important general issues that needs bringing to our attention, please contact us through the surgery via email: cmicb-wi.gatekeeper-n85016@nhs.net.  (If you have a personal matter, please directly raise it with the surgery.)

Do you wish to be involved but cannot attend the surgery? 

Join our virtual PPG group. This is a group of patients who would like to be part of the Patient Participation Group but prefer not to attend meetings.  You can get involved by email instead. Please contact us through the surgery via email: cmicb-wi.gatekeeper-n85016@nhs.net to join.

Information such as practice newsletters, minutes of the Patient Participation Group meetings and surveys will be shared electronically. It means that if you cannot make face-to-face meetings, are caring for someone and unable to leave them, or are working, you can still be kept informed, give your views and participate.

Your contact details will only be used for this purpose and will be kept safely.

Patient Participation Group ‘Interview with a GP’

We have had a few changes in GP’s over the last year or so and members of the Patient Participation Group have interviewed them to find out a little more about them and why they choose to be a GP.

GP Interviews March 2023