Learn more about the Enfield PPG Project Background and Outline.
Year One Summary Report
Project Background
• Enfield CCG has an active PPG Network and an elected PPG representative on the Governing Body on 1 April 2020, Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington CCGs merged to become North Central London CCG.
• Each Borough kept a smaller local management team and within the developing integrated care system, develop Borough Partnership Boards which includes the local council, NHS providers, voluntary sector organisations and some local engagement activity.
• However on 23 march 2020, the UK entered the first lockdown for covid and this meant that many NHS activities were paused to focus on the pandemic response. This included the Enfield PPG Network which had previously met quarterly face-to-face together with most GP practice meetings.
• Due to the lockdowns NHS meetings transferred online via teams, with some PPGs meeting on zoom. PPG representation continued in the Enfield Borough Partnership work.
• During the financial year 2022/2023, we decided to apply for funding from the new NCL Inequalities Fund to audit and develop PPGs in Enfield post pandemic. Funding is allocated based on a formula which looks at deprivation, impact on health inequalities and a written bidding process.
Project Outline
We submitted a Project Plan that included:
1:1 Support Sessions with the PPG Practices
Community Outreach targeted particularly at Wards of deprivation and BAME Inequalities with the aim of increasing understanding of patient experiences and improving diversity in membership of PPGs
Investment to support PPG infrastructure – e.g. Training, IT, NAPP membership
Administrative support – commissioned from Healthwatch Enfield to support an audit.
Our proposal was supported by the Enfield Borough Partnership, the GP Federation and our PCN Clinical Directors.
The overarching objective was to review how we could support PPGs post-pandemic and post the system changes to the NHS brought about by the health and social care act 2022.
in July 2022, NCL CCG became the NCL Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) and all local partners joined NCL Integrated Care System (NCL ICS) because of the health and social care act 2022. We wanted to explore how PPGs could work across the new healthcare system as well as play a key role in developing Enfield’s Borough Partnership Board and local neighbourhood working in primary care supporting our primary care networks.
An important part of our bid was that the allocation of our funding would be aligned with the findings of our audit/support sessions with PPGs/GP Practices and that we would co-produce objectives with PPGs and spend the money on infrastructure.
- Support Sessions
Phase one of the project was to offer a support session to each PPG.
A questionnaire was used to semi-structure the discussion.
29 Support Sessions Took Place.
Not all practices/interviewees answered all questions as we kept the conversation open and dynamic to encourage co-production.
The Medicus Group and some of our other practices and PCNs now have joint PPG meetings, but we tried to contact each geographical site and offer the PPG Chair/members or practice staff a meeting.
Discussions were focused on finding out how PPGs were currently working, any challenges they were facing post-covid lockdowns, what ideas they might have for improvement and how we could use the funding to support their development.
After each meeting, we shared a copy of a good practice guide for PPGs edited by Litsa Worrall & Tim Fellows.
Good Practice in Enfield
Enfield PPGs are officially partnering with the Twalking project (talking and walking). The PPG team from Woodberry Surgery won the first round of the contest. The PPG team captain of the winning group is working with Litsa on an additional fundraising element to Twalking so that the PPGs can raise money for a local charity of their choice.
Some of our PPGs are involved in fundraising – one practice purchased a defribulator, another a buggy shelter and another PPG purchased a hearing loop – all based on the needs of their patients, in their practice.
Latymer Road PPG is trying to fundraise for a community garden and pre-pandemic organised health talks for the community.
Our project is sharing these examples of best practice and helping groups skill share.
How the Enfield project is using its influence
We are reporting regularly to the NCL ICB inequalities fund on our project
We have a strong foundation for PPGs in Enfield and our elected member and network are working together with our Borough Partnership, sitting on key meetings and as part of the governance structure.
We regularly speak to Enfield clinical directors of our primary care networks.
We are going to organise a face-to-face meeting with PPGs and PCNs in the summer. We have spoken to our neighbour Camden’s Patient Engagement Group (CPEG) about our project and how we could build relationships. We are hoping to bring together all PPGs across the NCL together in 2024.
We would like to use the Enfield work to start an NCL Network and build a strong, direct voice for primary care patient experience in NCL.
We have just commissioned our first PPG outreach project with the Turkish speaking community who will be recruiting new members to their PPG surgeries as well as gathering insight.
We are commissioning training and NAPP Membership for our PPGs.
We thought about how to constitute the network going forward and decided to become a not-for-profit constituted organisation, but not a registered charity at this point.
The Chair of the Network is now the deputy chair of the Enfield Inequalities Delivery Group and sits on the NCL ICB meetings as a representative of PPGs in Enfield.
We have set up independent governance of our funds for the Enfield PPG Network to go forward with the agreement of NCL ICB and the Enfield Borough Partnership.
How we are investing in the future
- National Association for Patient Participation Membership for all PPGs In Enfield
- Training for PPGs
- Restarting our Face-To-Face Enfield Network meetings
- New Logo and Design Work
- Build a Website
- Funding available for each PPG Practice that is to be match funded with their Practice.
- Sharing Best Practice
Year 2 Funding
We have been approved for a second Year of Funding and would like the Network to help us develop a plan of investment.
We are also continuing to work with Middlesex University as we have been selected as an outstanding project and will be running some focus groups in autumn 2023. If you want to join in with this work, let us know at enquiries@enfieldppgnetwork.org.uk
A Patient Participation Group (PPG) as a group of volunteer patients, carers and GP Practice staff who meet regularly to discuss and support the running of their GP Practice.
The aim of the Patient Participation Group is to give patients, GPs and practice staff an opportunity to exchange ideas and information and then to take action.
PPGs look at the services the practices offers, patient experience and how improvements can be made for the benefit of patients and the practice. Each PPG is different, but they all have the aim of making sure that the GP Practice puts the patient, and improving health, at the heart of everything it does.
Benefits of a Patient Participation Group
- Patients will be more responsible for their own health.
- Patients will have a better understanding and knowledge of the practice and its staff.
- Patients will be consulted about arrangements for their primary health care before decisions are made.
- Patients will benefit from improved communications between patients and staff.
- Patients will have a network to suggest positive ideas and voice concerns.
- Jointly planned services are more effective and used more efficiently by patients.
In addition:
• They will be able to help patients with non-medical issues such as loneliness, transport, and health education.
• They will be able to get help from patients in meeting targets and objectives, such as surveys.
• They will have a network to test ideas and suggestions to patients.
• They will get closer to the community for whom they care.
• Patients will have an organisation through which they can help other patients in need.
• The patient view will always be represented in local health care.
• Improved communication will lead to more accountability for practice staff.
Joining a Patient Participation Group
A PPG is open to every patient on the GP practice list. People of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and those with health conditions and disabilities are encouraged to join. There are no membership requirements except that patients must be registered with the practice. PPG members should as far as possible, be representative of the practice population.
At Enfield PPG Network, we are eager to ensure that our patients are actively involved in deciding how the health services we use should develop. To provide our patients with this opportunity to express their views. We meet both virtually and face to face.
If you are interested in joining your local PPG, please contact your general practice. If you would like to know more about getting involved with the Enfield PPG Network, please email us at enquiries@enfieldppgnetwork.org.uk.
At Enfield PPG network, we are eager to ensure that our patients are actively involved in deciding how the health services we use should develop. To provide our patients with this opportunity to express their views. We meet both virtually and face to face.
If you are interested in joining your local PPG, please contact your general practice. If you would like to know more about getting involved with the Enfield PPG Network, please email us at Enquiries@enfieldppgnetwork.org.uk.