We’re marking national Patient Participation Group (PPG) Awareness Week (31 May – 6 June) and Volunteers Week by saying a huge thanks to all the patient representatives who help us shape health services.
PPG Awareness Week aims to promote the role and importance of engaging with PPGs to patients, the public and health professionals to show the importance of patient participation in shaping and promoting healthcare services. Volunteers Week celebrates the role of volunteers.
In the last 12 months, PPG members and the public have been active in engaging with us and helping to design services such as:
- End of life care
- Dementia
- Long Covid support.
Dr Navin Kumta, local GP and Chair of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Patients and the public play a vital role to help us improve health and care services. The CCG has a wealth of networks to reach out to local people and patient participation groups (PPGs) are one of those ways.
“Each practice should have a patient participation group which consists of local people who are registered with the practice who are the eyes and ears of the practice to help GP services improve.
“They play a wider part in shaping health too, regularly meeting with the CCG and getting involved with the many ways we engage with the public.
“We are urging local people to consider joining their PPG and our Health Network to influence improvements and stay informed about how you can have your say.”
If you are interested in joining your PPG, please contact your surgery.
We are always seeking the views of patients and public on healthcare services across Kent and Medway, and how we can improve. There are lots of opportunities to have your say on services on our website.
Dr Navin Kumta, local GP and Chair of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Patients and the public play a vital role to help us improve health and care services."
Find out more about the projects we're actively seeking views on and how we are using feedback.
The NHS in Kent and Medway has been working hard during the coronavirus pandemic to keep people safe and care for those who need our services. People in Kent and Medway have had to adapt to health services going online, to different contact methods and routines and practices. We have been doing the same in our engagement work.
However, we have continued to involve people in developing our services. You can find out more about some of our work here.