Patient participation awareness week

by NHS SOUTH EAST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT

GPs in Greenwich are encouraging people to find out how they can get involved in improving local health services during patient participation awareness week which runs between June 1 and June 6.

Organised by the National Association for Patient Participation, patient participation awareness week aims to highlight the importance of patient involvement in achieving excellent care for all patients.

There are many ways people in Greenwich can contribute towards improving the quality of local health care and outcomes for patients, including by attending a local patient participation group.

Dr Ellen Wright, a local GP and Chair of NHS Greenwich CCG, said almost all GP practices in Greenwich have a patient participation group (PPG).

“Patient participation groups meet regularly to help improve access and services at their GP practice, and to feed ideas into the planning of health services,” she said.

“Attending your local patient participation group means you can work with your doctor and practice manager to deal with health issues that affect you, other local people and your GP surgery.

“The groups provide practical support in the surgery, help improve communication between the practice and its patients and help patients to take more responsibility for their health.

“The views and feedback of our patients are vital in influencing and shaping our work to ensure local people in Greenwich get the health services they need.

“I’d encourage all patients in Greenwich to see how they can get involved during patient participation awareness week.”

To find out more about PPGs in Greenwich and other ways that you can share your views about local health services visithttp://www.greenwichccg.nhs.uk/Get-Involved.

To find out more about patient participation awareness week, which this year has the theme ‘quality in general practice’ visit www.napp.org.uk.

The National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P) is a national charity and the only umbrella body for patient-led groups in primary care.

There are now over 1000 participation groups affiliated to N.A.P.P, which represent at least ten million patients across the UK.