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Patient and Public Involvement
On December 4th we received a copy of a DOH letter providing further information relating to the new Patient and Public Involvement Forums.
A Patient and Public Involvement Forum is a new independent statutory body.
The PPI Forum will decide what work it needs to do, based on information as to what is important to people locally that will be gathered from patient surveys, from
existing patient groups, and discussions with overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) PALS or ICAS providers etc
The letter states that:
- all PPI Forums are now in place
- each PPI Forum has a statutory right to enter and inspect premises where NHS trusts and PCTs provide services and premises where primary care is provided
- NHS trusts, PCTs and Strategic Health Authorities are required to provide information on request to PPI Forums
- NHS trusts and PCTs are required to respond to PPI Forum reports
The points which are of particular relevance to GPS are;
- The GMS Regulations have been amended to make it a contractual requirement for GPs to comply with the Patients' Forum regulations.
- PPI Forums may now enter GP premises as long as neither patients' safety, privacy, dignity or the effective operation of the health services are compromised.
- PPI Forums may also request information from GPs that enables the Forum to carry out its functions. For example, GPs could be asked to provide information as
to how they had sought patients' views if they changed the way that their services were provided.
Further information;
Full text of the DOH letter ,
Commission for patient and public involvement in health ,
Guidance; involving patients and the public
CED 10/12/03
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