• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Patients Participation Group

Listlad

BANNED
Messages
3,971
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I recently applied to join my local group.

I received this email today:

The xxxxxx Street practice and the PPG have to discuss some logistic issues. The PPG think it best to address these before inviting you to a taster meeting after which we hope you will be inclined to join us and help make a difference to how the practice provides it services. In the meantime you could visit the national PPG website for background information:-

Attachment added.

bla bla bla
 
Perhaps different surgeries interpret the guidelines differently?
Logistic issues could mean anything, but when my surgery started a PPG around 10 years ago, I had to point out that the criteria for inclusion should not be by invitation of the GP to elderly gentleman, as this was not a representative sample of the patient demographic.

Info here....
https://www.napp.org.uk/patientfaqs.html
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Do they explain what these logistic issues are?
Click to expand...
No.

They gave me a copy of a standard document on PPG. It was cc’d to 3 other different people who I take to be other members or potential members. Maybe they are redecorating or something?
 
Who is representative of any demographic?
 
So how are they "testing" you to see if you are a suitable person. Surely you are entitled to know, or is it just information they extract from your files, like age, gender, diabilities, address and so on
 
Bluetit1802 said:
So how are they "testing" you to see if you are a suitable person. Surely you are entitled to know, or is it just information they extract from your files, like age, gender, diabilities, address and so on
Click to expand...
I do not know. They only know me through my records and interaction with them.

My thinking is that they would need a representative cross section from the local community. But many will be at work and will not be too inclined to apply. Hopefully they would pick at least one from each gender.

Perhaps I can impress them with my PowerPoint slide show on low carbing and diabetes this afternoon.
 
Listlad said:
Who is representative of any demographic?
Click to expand...
My point was that as there is a variety of genders, age groups, ethnicities etc among the patients the PPG should not have consisted of just the elderly gentleman chosen by the GP, but a mix to reflect the diversity of the registered patients. Perhaps your PPG already has several members similar to yourself, @Listlad , but they ought to give you a full explanation. Even if they don’t need you as a committee member you, as a patient, ought to be able to express opinions via a representative.
 
Or maybe they haven't got enough chairs.
 
I see. I don’t see the letter as a refusal. In fact the opposite.
 
My GP surgery doesn't have a PPG. There was an attempt to set one up last year. I filled in form to say I was interested and was invited to meet the chap who was trying to set it up. I think I was the only person who responded and it didn't get any further.
 
Very odd ... my surgery PPG is open to any member of the practise who can turn up at a meeting on Monday at 1 pm bi-monthly. Last time there were about 30 of us..
 
Yes I kind of get the impression that might be the case here or similar.
 
My surgery is in a health centre, with 2 separate practices within it who share certain areas such as reception, the treatment room and minor surgery theatre, clinic rooms for maternity and baby care and so forth. There are posters up on the reception walls asking for volunteers for the PPGs for both practices with details of when meetings are held and whatnot. I'm not certain, but I think you just have to turn up. I could be wrong.
 
I joined my PPG last year, I just filled in a form and I was in! It’s quite a new one so everyone seems keen. We are helping at a Macmillan coffee morning in the Autumn and I have been allowed by the PPG and Diabetes Nurse to do a display about low carb for weight loss and type 2 control. I have to present it as my personal story so as to side step the NHS schpiel
 
Upon reflection I can’t see me using this route in now. I was looking at it as a route in to instigate change but it looks like it would be superfluous.
 
My surgery has a sign up inviting anyone to attend the PPG. You can also - as I did - sign up online. There were only 4 of us last time and only 2 of us said anything. I’ve received a letter in the post this month inviting me back and asking for agenda items.

It’s a shame it’s not better attended as the young woman who runs it is very impressive and seems to be making an impact in the surgery. However also gives me a good opportunity to say my piece!
 
I was involved with ours, several years ago. PPG members were also invited to attend Clinical Commissioning Group open meetings. This gave opportunity to influence decisions on NHS matters on a wider scale.
 
I just get the impression that there has been some similar lethargy here in my local case.

But from a diabetes standpoint I am a lot more comfortable now after my appointment with my GP. So the need to influence via PPG has waned a little for me,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…