Simply put, a PPG (Patient Participation Group) is the primary patients' representation within a GP Practice. From 2013 all GP Practices were required to establish a PPG to represent the patient voice and work with the Practice to improve the patient experience.
Most GP practices gain feedback from patients using suggestion boxes and satisfaction survey, however, a more direct and productive method is to have a PPG.
It is usually comprised of about a dozen Practice patients meeting periodically to discuss issues that have been been raised by the wider Practice patient base.
The Practice Manager and members of staff often attend these meetings, providing an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to patients outside of their busy day-to-day schedules.
A more general discussion of PPGs can be found at the National Association of Patient Participation's website.