Celebrating Your PPG for Patient Participation Week
Every June, Patient Participation Week gives practices a moment to pause, reflect, and recognise the invaluable role of their Patient Participation Group (PPG).
These groups are often the quiet powerhouses behind better patient experiences, offering feedback, shaping new services, supporting practice events, and amplifying patient voices. So this month, let’s shine a spotlight on them.
🌟 Say Thank You – Loudly and Proudly
Start by acknowledging your PPG’s contribution. Whether they’ve been involved in shaping triage systems, supporting flu clinics, giving feedback on communications, or simply turning up month after month, that commitment matters.
Here are a few simple but meaningful ways to show appreciation:
Social media spotlight: Share a few quotes or stories from your PPG members. A friendly post goes a long way!
Noticeboard display: Create a “Meet Our PPG” board with photos or names and a short sentence about what they do.
Small thank-you event: Host a coffee morning or invite them for tea and cake to say thanks in person.
Practice newsletter feature: Include a short piece highlighting their impact and achievements.
🗣️ Make Their Work Visible
Most patients still don’t know what a PPG is, or that your practice has one. Use this week to change that. Visibility builds trust and encourages new people to get involved.
Try:
Sharing examples of how the PPG has made a difference (e.g. “Our PPG suggested clearer signage, and now we’ve redesigned the entrance area.”)
Showing the diversity of voices in the group, so more patients see themselves represented
Highlighting ways to join or get involved, with clear contact info online and in the practice
🤝 Invite New Members
PPGs thrive when they reflect the whole practice population. Patient Participation Week is a great excuse to reach out.
Create a short, friendly expression of interest form, both online and paper-based
Ask current members to encourage friends, neighbours or carers to consider joining
Be clear about the time commitment and flexibility, not everyone has time for monthly meetings, but many can still contribute
You could even host a “PPG Taster Session”, where interested patients can meet the group informally and find out what it’s all about.
💡 Remember:
Your PPG isn’t just a tick-box exercise, it’s a living, evolving partnership. Patient Participation Week is your chance to celebrate that relationship, say thank you, and build even stronger connections for the future.
Let’s celebrate people power this June!