Patient Participation Group.
I just wondered if anyone here is actively involved with their Surgery PPG - if they have one that is. They have been going since the 1970's but not all Doctors surgeries have one. Do they work for you or do you think they are a complete waste of time.
Would love to know what you think.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Lucky girl but if your practice has a PPG - as a registered patient you would automatically be a part of it. However, if you rarely visit your surgery you might not have heard about it - or they may just not have formed one.
The idea is that every patient is automatically a member if the surgery runs a PPG and you can be as active a member or not - as you prefer.
I only ask because during my research for our group it seemed to me that the PPG's were quite prolific around the country yet no one I had spoken to had ever heard of them.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Ooh that is interesting - I Googled to see how many PPG groups there are and found this website but it seems to have excluded Scotland and Wales
Not sure if these countries have their own schemes or not.
http://www.growingppgs.com/ppg-map/
I only asked as I have to give a talk about them and as we seem to be a fairly widespread group of people on here thought it would be interesting to get some views from other group members.
If anyone is interested then there is a website for them (I'm not promoting them or involved in the National organisation in any way) just in case you might be interested.
Having seen how 'people power' seems to be having some effect lately here in UK and aound the world I was wondering if Doctors might just have to sit up and listen a bit more to the needs and concerns of their patients when there is an effective PPG running. Or if it helps the community to pull together and help each other then that could be a good thing as well.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
I have only had experience of focus groups which to be honest were mostly a waste of time as the people I met with always used it as a chance to complain but never offered any ideas of what improvements could be made
Trying to enjoy life as it is
I know just what you mean Aly but this is something pointed out and repeated at every meeting and on all documents - this is not a vehicle for complaints.
It should be a great way to get your concerns and ideas for improvements across to the GP's but it should also be a way to do something for the community you live in a well. It's not a focus group as such and it does need a lot of hard work and committment from those who can help run the group. My biggest fear is that it will fall to a few well intentioned people to keep it going whilst the vast majority just take it for granted. However, if someone doesn't have a go at getting it up and running then you'll never know if it can work - tough call.
I have spent a little bit of time reading about the PPG's which have been successful and they really do sound great, but for every one of them I'm fairly sure there will be plenty that have failed through lack of interest.
I was amazed to find out that they have been around since 1978 - and I've only just heard about them and virtually everyone I speak to says the same. Very poor advertising from the GP's.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
it is diificult to get people to commit to regular things nowadays. Maybe it's just apathy brought on by the hard times we now live in
Trying to enjoy life as it is
must be right as I see I am now an expert
Trying to enjoy life as it is
Whoo hoo.......I shall expect expert answers from now on then.....not that they haven't been already of course
Apathy maybe, often just too busy I guess. My son & daughter in law seem to spend every spare moment running around after their children, ferrying them and their friends all over the place. We do live in a fairly rural area with very little in the way of public transport but even so I don't ever remember my children being so busy all the time.
I must admit the idea of a PPG sounds good on paper but then a great big slurp of reality kicks in and I think no one will keep it going.
Ah well........what you doing to celebrate becoming officially an expert
and does this now make you an Expert Expat
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
I had never heard of them either and I am quite interested in things medical. Now with my development hat on I would say one of the biggest dangers is not just those who wish to complain, but the kinds of people who tend to hijack meetings to push their own agendas.
That is what I experienced doing focus groups when I was a nurse. It is maddening when you are wanting to improve a service
the expert expat
Trying to enjoy life as it is
Hmm - all a bit worrying isn't it. When you would think they should realise the group is there to try and improve services for everyone. Pure selfishness, but I guess the person Chairing the meeting should be able to stop all that.
Some of the services that have been provided include home visits for the housebound and elderly, bereavement counselling, free transport to surgery or hospital provided by volunteers, diet advice, diabetes support group, basic parenting skills....the list goes on and on. Also improvements to appointment system and waiting room facilities.....much needed in some practices. If you feel you have contributed in some way no matter how small then why are there still the selfish ones allowed to dominate the meetings....beats me.
Looks like it should be a lively meeting
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Theyre a good idea but we all ready know they come ready staffed with the local loudmouthed bunch of male retirees , who really arent interested in anyones thoughts but there own ....im allready in enough trouble for suggesting to the PTA that they ask the local pub if theyd be interested in doing school dinners now the caterers have gone bust and they all have to take sandwiches , the comment i overherd was were a parents association not a grandparents ...pardon an oldie for having a bit of comman sense
Yes the people that could make a difference can't be a***ed.
Doctors are overpaid, should work more than two hours in the morning and about the same in the afternoon. As for seeing all these pharmaceutical reps...why?
I was prescribed some tablets in Bulgaria when I developed Labyrinthitis. inflammation of the inner ear, a viral infection ...now a side effect of the tablets was that I lost two stone and my niece who is a nurse said that they were the most effective slimming tablets not on the market and that was because there was no profit in them....
Get the bank nurses out of the NHS, get the contract cleaners and the employment agencies out...middle men are cleaning us out. Then we might have more control of our finances...it yours and my money they are spending...oh..don't get me started.
I don't think I'd be very good on a panel....
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
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