New Patient Participation Requirement for GPs

A new Patient Participation requirement for GP Practices:

The Department of Health has recently released details of the National Directed Enhanced Scheme (DES) to improve patient participation as part of the recent changes to the GMS contract for 2011/12.

From April 2011 for two years, GP practices will be required to promote the proactive engagement of their patients through ‘Patient Reference Groups’ and to undertake local surveys.

The National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P) has over 30 years experience and expertise in promoting, supporting and developing Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) helping to give patients a say in improving the quality of services and ensuring that patients’ needs, wishes and aspirations are at the heart of primary care.

Virtual PPGs are also now developing based on email networks and social media to enable the group to reach out to the wider diverse population ensuring engagement with all sections of the population including those from minority communities and those that are seldom heard.

Read a case study of four practices that developed a virtual PPG including a getting started guide-(also included in the DES documentation) and a list of survey questions that may be useful.

N.A.P.P has developed a full range of resources to support GP’s, practices and groups which are available in our Resources section under GP contract  For more information about support or details of how to affiliate to NAPP please contact Edith Todd email: admin@napp.org.uk or Tel: 01932 242350