Since 1978, the National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P. ) has fostered the establishment of several hundreds of patient participation groups (PPGs) in primary care throughout the UK. N.A.P.P.'s ideals were endorsed by the WHO/UNICEF declaration in Alma Ata that :-
"The people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their healthcare."

N.A.P.P. is a registered charity, is apolitical and has supported any changes which benefit patients through a number of governments. Its work is driven largely by volunteers, especially its Board members, with a small amount of paid project management and office administration support.

Until last year, N.A.P.P. has received Section 64 funding from the Department of Health in order to (a) work more closely with Primary Care Trusts and (b) promote good practice. Following this work, N.A.P.P. established a membership arrangement for Trusts in addition to its core activity of supporting practice-based Patient Participation Groups (PPGs).

At the start of 2008, our total membership stood at 330 PPGs and 15 Primary Care Organisations. We have developed particular interests in the future of primary care, patient and public involvement in practice-based commissioning, self-care, patient access to records, and in research that is patient-centred. We are active in all of these areas, and several others, at national level.