Getting the Most from Your Patient

“Let’s just decide what to do about this – Then we’ll run it past the patient panel!” PG Tips – Getting the Most from Your Patient Group WORKSHOP with Sue Kinsey (P3) and Patricia Wilkie (NAPP) Patient Partnership in Practice The group’s aims are to: • Develop ideas and lead activities that encourage GPs to work in partnership most effectively with patients and public. • Influence activity in Scotland that impacts on the quality of patient care. • Work together as a team to ensure that the activities of the College respond to patient needs. Patient Partnership in Practice Recent Achievements: • Disability Tip Cards • PG Tips (coming soon!) • A lay member of P3 is now attached to all RCGP Scotland faculties. • Your Actions Count - poster SPIDERGRAM RESULTS: “A PPG is….” • • • • • • • • • • Helpful to develop patient services Difficult to get off the ground People with strong views Something that has to be done for the contract In theory ‘representative’ Bandwagon Politically determined Threatening Moaning session Unachievable expectations GP perspective… “Far from being a platform for complaints, it is unusual for there to be strong dissent in the meetings. However, members do have some strong opinions. I have been pulled up once or twice for saying “it’s just too difficult”, and it has been useful to learn how quickly I try to excuse the status quo. I have also been surprised at the ability of the group to grasp the dilemmas involved in practice decisions and their robust view that we should not “pander” to patients!” PPG from Auchterarder practice GP perspective… “It has certainly made me feel more accessible. We have had interesting, increasingly honest, and sometimes challenging discussions about the NHS as a whole and, more specifically, the local Health Centre and hospital. It has certainly made me think more critically about the service we provide from the General Public’s point of view”. Patient testimonials… “I have been on my patient group for 4 years, originally as a representative of the local Probus club. The group is enthusiastically supported by all the GP’s in the practice. We raised funds for a water cooler in the waiting room . We are asked by the practice for our views on current events in our Health board area, and if there are meetings attended by the GP’s they will ask questions raised by the patient group”. Patient testimonials… “Being a member of my Local patient group has given me a better understanding of how the NHS system and how it works. We meet monthly, chaired by one of the GP’s, who also produces the minutes of the meeting which appear in the local community magazine. Because the group is supported by all the GP’s it is very effective and we discuss many topics some of which are very controversial, such as the GP contract. With the help of the practice we produced a leaflet on how to contact the NHS, when to call an ambulance etc., which was delivered to all the households in our locality by the local Army Cadets”. “Let’s just decide what to do about this – Then we’ll run it past the patient panel!” National Association of Patient Participation Groups (N.A.P.P.) Paper prepared by Graham Box, CEO N.A.P.P RCGP Conference 4th October 2007 History NAPP formed in 1978 from GPs with very different motivations •Invite ideas and suggestions •Patients have a right to a say •To provide regular feedback •Tap into skills and goodwill of patients Gradual growth but continued suspicion “PPGs, by definition, are likely to attract the more volatile and extrovert…complainers and neurotics” – World Medicine 1981. Gradual growth but continued suspicion “In most parts of the country the relationship between practitioner and patient is extremely good. In these cases there is little or nothing that this type of activity can add” – BMA, 1983. What do PPGs do? Signposting What do PPGs do Helping to meet demand What do PPGs do? Health promotion Improving the patient experience “I went around the new walk-in centre in my wheelchair and found 32 things wrong with it.” (Greater Manchester PPI Forum Chair) Improving health “The patients that attended went away very happy. Nobody had ever explained their condition to them before.” (Brent Practice Manager) Challenges (1) Improving health and health promotion work Meeting the Wanless £30 billion challenge Challenges (2) Practice based commissioning Service redesign with patient input Challenges (3) Legitimising the patient voice Addressing representation, diversity and information issues For example, are we? • Engaging with communities to ensure that key health messages are understood • Ensuring that proper market research is conducted • Engaging with the system to present the patient perspective and to counterbalance competing professional and business interests Current position N.A.P.P. has 300 PPG affiliates and 15 PCT affiliates. Aim: A good PPG in every practice, a network of PPGs in every PCT Philosophy: Constructive relationships based on understanding that patients have more to offer the health service than their illnesses In short… Effective Patient and Public Involvement should: A. B. C. Improve health Improve the patient experience Improve the use of resources For more information Visit www.napp.org.uk