Patient Participation Group

In the practice we have an established PPG, in total 10 members who meet regularly face-to-face (or remotely via Teams) to discuss various practice related items.  


  • Mr/Mrs XXX – PPG Chair (responsible for chairing all PPG meetings)
  • Mr/Mrs XXX – PPG Secretary (responsible for general administration such as minute taking and distribution of meeting minutes and agenda)
  • Mr/Mrs XXX – PPG Treasurer (responsible for taking care of the PPG funds and finances)

Virtual PPG

In addition to those PPG members who meet regularly we also have virtual PPG members, these are patients who are unable to commit to meetings on a regular basis but who receive the meeting minutes or other related documentation and provided the opportunity to feedback/comment.

What is a PPG?

A Patient Participation Group (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.

What is the purpose of a PPG?

  • To give patients and practice staff the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest.  
  • To provide a means for patients to become more involved and make suggestions about the healthcare services they receive.  
  • To explore issues from patient complaints and patient surveys, contribute to actions plans and help monitor improvements.  
  • To contribute feedback to the practice on National Patient Survey results and Friends and Family Test feedback to propose developments or change.  
  • To support health awareness and patient education.

What should a PPG look like? 

A PPG is open to every patient on the GP practice list. All communities, groups, genders, ages, ethnicities, and disabilities representing the patient list are encouraged to join. There are no other membership requirements except that patients must be registered with the practice.  PPG members should as far as possible, be representative of the practice population.

What can a PPG do?  

  • Discuss constructive suggestions for improving the practice, and share concerns that could affect the wider practice population.  
  • Organise health focused events with the practice, i.e. healthy eating awareness as an information event for all practice patients to attend.  
  • Create a patient survey with practice staff, to get feedback about the practice from the rest of the patient population.   Design a newsletter for the practice, to provide regular updates to patients.  
  • Assist the practice in making sure their website is ‘Patient Friendly’.  
  • Engage with the local community via fundraising events and useful health information, to ensure the PPG is representative.  
  • Invite health and voluntary professionals to PPG meetings, for PPG members to remain informed and updated about local opportunities for patients.

What should a PPG not do?

PPG patient members should not provide any medical advice to other patients, or deal with personal/medical issues or individual patient complaints during the meeting. These should be dealt with outside the meeting following the practices already established procedures.

How do I become a member of the PPG?

If you are interested in becoming a PPG member then please contact tower.hill@nhs.net and provide your name, DOB and contact details and the practice operations Manager and/or the PPG Chair will make contact with you.

Past and Future PPG Meetings

Please see below the dates of past and future meetings; click on each date to access further information on the meeting minutes.