About Inspire Health IPG
What is the IPG?
The IPG is a group that is open to all patients of the Inspire Health Practices. There are a number of volunteers who have offered some of their time to make it work but the majority of members join to find out what is happening within the Practices and to have an opportunity to occasionally express their opinions.
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We now are named ‘Inspire Patient Group’ (changed from 'Patient Participation Group') as it is evident that the majority of patients would like to be kept informed of local health and care matters that affect them but do not necessarily want to come to meetings or ‘participate’.
How does it work?
The volunteers manage the IPG web pages, Facebook, notice boards and tv screens within the waiting rooms and regular newsletters. These efforts are designed to try to inform as many patients as possible about what is happening and seek their opinions. This feedback from patients is then presented to the Practice to help maintain good quality health care.
There are meetings every 2 months you can attend if you wish. They are held in a Practice with a virtual link for members in their homes.
Is this important?
Yes. It seems that the NHS is facing probably its most difficult year since its beginnings in 1948. The appearance of Covid has revealed what a difficult state the NHS was in and it is no exaggeration to say we have reached a state of crisis.
Can we as patients make a difference?
There are many ways we can work with the Practices to help maintain a high quality of health care. There are several key points in this;
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The Practices have said that they do value the patient voice. They will listen to our views and try to work with us.
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We need to get as many patients as possible to join the IPG. If we can demonstrate that we can deliver the views of a large number of patients and that those views come from the diverse population of Inspire Health then we should be able to influence decisions about our health care.
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We need to have a system where patients are informed about what is happening in health care and can give an opinion [web page/Facebook/newsletter/waiting room notice boards and tv]. This new system goes live on the 26/5/22.
Further information about what we hope to achieve this year can be seen in this interview with the Hasland magazine.
So we hope you will join us in trying to maintain high quality health care at Inspire Health.
You can join by sending an email to ppgroup.ih@gmail.com or by leaving your name at your Practice reception desk.
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