Patient Participation Groups

1
Patient Participation Groups

• August 2006

2
Objectives

• To inform about the existence/role of patient
  participation groups.
• To hear about how different groups work.
• To consider Pros and Cons of the groups
• To look at models of levels of participation by
  citizens in an organisation.

3

• Brainstorm what you know about these groups and
  your experience of them?

4

• Take feedback

5
National Association for Patient Participation
(NAPP)

• Not just about GP setting
• Campaigns to establish Patient Participation
  Groups in every practice
• Registered charity
• Funded by DOH and subscriptions from affiliated
  groups
• Services are free

6
Hook Surgery Chessington Epsom invitation for
more participants

• A patient participation group is what you make
  it!
• It can
• Be a feedback forum to improve services
• Arrange health education meetings
• Encourage self-help of minor illness
• Develop projects to met the needs of fellow
  patients e.g. with transport
• Act as a representative group to influence the
  local provision of health and social care
• Fund raise for specific items of medical
  equipment or aids to patients
• But it is not meant for complaints

7
Cookham Patient Participation Group

• Provides the following help
• Information patient library
• Self help groups, several are represented on the
  committee
• Training e.g. emergency first aid, baby-sitting
  training
• Monitoring medical services through
  feedback/suggestions box
• Monitor/discuss important PCT health plans
• Support for medical centre e.g. practical tasks,
  lobbying support
• Fundraising to provide books, leaflets and
  videos for the patient library

8
Watford and Three Rivers PCT

• These groups work within the practice to
• Help themselves and other patients to take more
  responsibility for their health
• Provide practical support for the practice
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of
  services
• Activity of the group is determined by the needs
  of the community and in consultation with the
  practice staff.

9
Watford and Three Rivers PCT

• Activities that have been undertaken by patient
  participation group around the country include
• Provide information for and organise training for
  patients (90)
• Fundraising (75)
• Provide facilities in the surgery (67)
• Surveys and monitoring of services (63)
• Provide services (57)
• Provide social support (8)
• Contribute to practice decision making (?)

10
Watford and Three Rivers PCT

• Patient Participation groups are not
• A forum for complaints
• Implementation of a pre-determined agenda (the
  governments or anyone elses)
• A time consuming activity for practice staff
• Only effective in rural practices

11

• Please discuss the pros and cons of Patient
  Participation Groups, from the perspective of
  both a patient and a practice

12
Levels of Participation

• Ladder is a useful model of the possible levels
  of citizen involvement
• There are several versions of the ladder
• It is not implicit that there should be an assent
  from one stage to the next
• The value of the ladder is that it helps clarify
  thinking and assist a frank and open dialogue
  about the nature and extent of patient and public
  involvement

13
Armsteins ladder of participation 1969
8
Citizen control
Citizen power
7
Delegated power
6
Partnership
5
Tokenism
Placation
4
Consultation
3
Informing
2
Therapy
Nonparticipation
Manipulation
1
14
Wilcoxs ladder of participation 2005
Supporting
Substantial participation
Degree of control
Acting together
Deciding together
Consultation
Information
15
Wilcoxs ladder of participation 2005

• Information merely telling people what is
  planned
• Consultation offering some options, listening
  to feedback, but not allowing new ideas
• Deciding together encouraging additional
  options and ideas, and providing opportunities
  for joint decision-making
• Acting together not only do different interests
  decide on what is best, they form a partnership
  to carry it out
• Supporting independent community interests
  local groups or organisations are offered funds,
  advice or other support to develop their own
  agendas within guidelines

16

• Where do/should Patient Participation Groups fit
  into these models?