Sharing learning about developing Patient Participation Groups

Conference reporting on a patient involvement project

Patient Participation Groups (PPG) have a key role to play as they help ensure that patients and carers can influence their local care services.

A patient involvement project is now in progress in Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to develop PPGs and raise people’s awareness of them and the role they should play in GP surgeries.

This conference marked the end of the project and reported on project outcomes and the benefits of linking university nursing students to PPGs.

This project was commissioned by NHS England and managed by the Patients’ Association with the support of the University of Plymouth.

Programme

Setting the scene - Nikki Thomas and Heather Eardley
Why do we need PPGs? - Mike Dixon
Making it happen: PPGs and students - Kim Young, PPG representatives and students representatives
A good news story - Steve Sharples
The role of students, PPI and PPGs in promoting health - Richard Ayres and Gary Wallace
How to influence CQC inspections - Nigel Starey
Panel discussion - Katherine Murphy, Kevin Holton, Trish Livsey, Mike Dixon, Sam Regan de Bere, Nigel Starey, Linda Petzing, Megan Betts
Linking nursing students to PPGs - Ray Jones, Heather Eardley, Kim Young, Sharon Jones, Tracey Proctor-Childs
Reaching out: widening PPG membership - Steve Sharple and Chris Iremonger
Making use of social media - Carol Steele and Ray Jones
What are the additional benefits PPGs can provide? - Linda Petzing and Gary Wallace
Influencing commissioning - Sally Parker, Jo Curtis, Nikki Thomas, and Carol Steer
Widening participation: involving youngsters in PPGs - Liz Cosford.