Health watchdog finds public need more say on GP surgeries
HEALTHWATCH Rochdale has published its findings into patient participation groups (PPG) for borough GP surgeries.
The service carried out the work after receiving feedback from residents that their GP practice did not have an active PPG.
A PPG is a group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to help improve the service.
Since April 2015, it has been a contractual requirement of NHS England for all GP practices to have a PPG and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.
Healthwatch’s findings show that:
● 28% of GP practices have an active PPG
● 28% said they were due to restart their PPG
● 44% do not have an active PPG
Kate Jones, Healthwatch Rochdale chief executive officer, said: “PPGS give patients the opportunity to meet with staff to discuss practice issues and use patient experience to improve service.
“With the changes that are currently taking place within Primary Care we recognise that PPGS are one of the best ways to get people involved and have a say when decisions are being made that affect their health care.
“We welcome the response we have received from our findings and look forward to seeing all PPGS reinstated by April 2023.”
Whilst undertaking the work Healthwatch Rochdale also identified the following issues:
● Difficulty getting through on the phone
● Lack of staff awareness as to what a PPG was
● Limited PPG information on GP websites
Healthwatch Rochdale have made six recommendations to Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and a formal response has been received. You can read the full report and response on Healthwatch’s website.