As a GP working in a practice for over 20 years I have seen many changes and developments.   During this time I have firmly believed that the NHS belongs to everyone and that we are in a partnership with our patients and need to constantly listen to and learn from those we care for.  

We have welcomed the introduction of a Patient Participation Group to our practice team and have been enlightened, humbled, inspired and at times surprised by the depth of understanding and added benefit to the practice that this has brought.   The group is rightly challenging at times and hasn't been afraid to tell us 'as it is' but also remained supportive and encouraging, assisting us in many different ways for the benefit of our practice patient population.

The practice has been through many changes over the last few years, including a merger, many staff changes and currently a major building extension and redevelopment.  Our PPG has overseen this and guided and assisted us throughout.   Now that we have a PPG, I really can't imagine how we ever managed without them.  They have been invaluable.’

Dr Julie Oxtoby     Deputy Clinical Accountable Officer - North Staffordshire CCG,                                                                   

GP – Park Medical Centre, Staffordshire Moorlands                                                       

‘Patient Participation Groups are to be encouraged.  They have a vital role in enabling practices to learn from the experience of their patients and can very effective in bringing about continuous improvement to both services and the quality of patient care.’

Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP. Chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee

‘This year the NIHR Primary Care Research Network (PCRN) passed an important milestone when it recruited its 500,000th patient into clinical research.

This would not have been possible without the help of Patient Participation Groups and I would like to thank and acknowledge N.A.P.P.for its partnership to date. Its members are going to be incredibly important to us in the years ahead in helping us to involve patients in improving people's care and treatment through medical research.’

Professor Dame Sally C. Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health

‘ I don't know how I could manage or be without our  PPG. They are my eyes and ears and tell me exactly how patients view the practice.  They keep me on my toes, which is just what I want them to do’

Practice Manager, Luton

‘Quality PPGs inspire practice teams to make more of a difference for patients, carers and the local community.  I am proud to be a partner in a Practice that has enjoyed true partnership working with the Friends of Bennetts End Surgery PPG for the last 25 years’

Sandy Gower FRCGP (Hon), RCGP General Practice Foundation Practice Manager co-lead

‘As a GP in a practice which has had a PPG for over twenty years, I know at first hand the value of patient participation. In healthcare worldwide, working with patients and users is the major way forward. The question now is not why patient participation, but how to maximise the involvement of patients. As a CCG practice appraiser, I have been impressed by the presence of PPG members and their contributions. Practices have benefitted enormously from the constructive way in which patients have offered ideas and feedback for development and improving services’

Professor Mayur Lakhani FRCGP, Practising GP and Past Chairman of the Royal College of GPs

‘Practices of all types and sizes need PPGs; insights from patients are essential to ensuring a high quality service, and patients can also bring ideas and actions that directly help other patients. Think about joining your PPG if your practice has one, and about starting one if it does not’

Richard Baker: Professor of Quality in Health Care, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester

‘Encouraging patients to play a part in how practices work benefits both patients and the practice. Since it was established in 1978, N.A.P.P. has played a significant role in developing new ideas and sharing these through its network of PPGs. With its focus on patient centred care, the quality of care for patients in primary care has been enhanced immeasurably.’

Dr Bill Reith : Senior Partner, Westburn Medical Group, Aberdeen and Chair, RCGP Heritage Committee

Chair, RCGP Postgraduate Training Board 2005-11

Chair, RCGP Scottish Council 2000-03

Honorary Secretary, RCGP College Council 1994-95

‘Many members of the primary care team understand the needs of their patients, based on daily contact, they also need more formal ways of gathering the views of patients and the public. My practice has had a patient participation group, called 'Village Care' for twenty five years and it has been invaluable in improving quality of care, the patient experience and public involvement. The NHS belongs to us all; PPGs are an essential way to ensure we all own it.’

Professor Mike Pringle: President RCGP

‘GPs understand the vital importance of being patient-centred in consultations. Increasing numbers now understand the importance of being patient-centred in everything that they do in their practices, and having an active and supported PPG can be a remarkably effective major step to achieving this.’

Professor David Haslam CBE : Chair, NICE