3 August 2009
New fund launched to support Patient Participation Groups
Growing Patient Participation campaign launches 'Making a Difference' fund for patient-led initiatives in general practice
A new £20,000 fund has been launched today by the Growing Patient Participation campaign, to support initiatives undertaken by Patient Participation Groups (PPGs). The Making a Difference fund is being made available as part of the campaign, to offer PPGs a chance to bid for financial support to help run local initiatives.
PPGs are groups of patients at general practice level, who meet on a regular basis to create a connection between their practice and the local community, and affect positive changes. The specific aims of each group depend on local needs, but all aim to involve patients in improving the health and well-being of the local community, helping to give patients a say in the way services are delivered, and to ensure their practice remains accountable, dynamic and responsive to their non-clinical needs.
The Growing Patient Participation campaign, a joint initiative run by the National Association for Patient Participation, NHS Alliance, Royal College of General Practitioners and British Medical Association, and supported by the Department of Health, aims to raise awareness of the good work being done, to encourage more widespread involvement and to support the creation of PPGs in more practices.
PPGs can bid for up to £4,000 of the £20,000 available, to fund a new initiative or support the continuation of valuable existing activities. All bids will be judged by a panel including the National Association for Patient Participation, PCT, PPG, GP and Practice Manager representatives. All types and sizes of initiative will be considered, however the successful bids must demonstrate that they are achievable, will respond to local patient needs, and will have a real impact on the health and well-being of the local population.
Awards will be made in two rounds. The deadline for application for the first round is 23rd November 2009. Awards will be made to successful bidders in December. The deadline for applications for the second round is 12th January 2010 and awards will be made in February. PPGs can apply by email or in writing. Application packs can be downloaded from www.growingppgs.com
Dr Graham Box, Chief Executive of the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP) said: "Currently 41 per cent of general practices in England have a PPG, and evidence shows that they help to improve services, promote health and allow better communication between the practice and its patients. From a patient’s dealing with reception staff and ease of booking an appointment, to their experience in the waiting room and the level of choice on offer, PPGs can be effective in ensuring the patient experience is as smooth and pleasant as possible. NAPP and the Growing Patient Participation campaign partners are delighted by the launch of this award, which will support PPGs in making a real difference to their practices and their communities. More than that, it will highlight the excellent, often undervalued work that is undertaken by PPGs."
Examples of the work of existing PPGs include:
- Advising the practice on the patient perspective
- Organising health promotion events
- Communicating with the wider patient body
- Running volunteer services and support groups to meet local needs
- Carrying out research into the views of those who use the practice (and their carers)
- Influencing the practice or the wider NHS to improve commissioning
- Fundraising to improve the services provided by the practice
For more information on PPGs and the national Growing Patient Participation campaign, and to sign up for campaign updates, visit www.growingppgs.com.
Ends
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact the Growing Patient Participation campaign team on 020 7839 4321 or at campaign@growingppgs.com.
Notes to editors
1. To download an application pack, visit www.growingppgs.com
2. Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are a valuable mechanism for engagement with patients at practice - and PCT - level. Typically they are made up of volunteer patients, the Practice Manager and one or more GP from within the practice. Despite the great work already being done, there is still scope for many more practices to set up a PPG and start reaping the benefits they can bring – currently only 41% of general practices have a PPG.
The National Association for Patient Participation, NHS Alliance, Royal College of General Practitioners and British Medical Association have come together, supported by the Department of Health, to launch a national stakeholder and media relations campaign to raise awareness of the good work being done by PPGs, to encourage more widespread involvement and to support practices and patients in setting up a PPG. The campaign aims to provide a national framework for activity taking place locally, raising awareness of PPGs on a national level, in order to support and add momentum to the work of individual PPGs and practices.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.growingppgs.com
3. The Growing Patient Participation campaign is supported by the Department of Health’s GP Access programme, which has three aims: to establish extra primary care services for local populations; to extend practice opening hours; and to increase the responsiveness of practices to their patients’ non-clinical needs.
The Responsive Practice element of the programme is about improving access to GP services, by assessing and responding to patients’ non-clinical needs and preferences. PPGs are clearly an ideal mechanism to help ensure this takes place, helping local patients to influence how services are accessed, in order to get the right result for the community.