This page is designed to give patients and practices useful tips and resources to set up and maintain a Patient Reference Group.
Patient Participation DES
The aim of Directed Enhanced Service (DES) is to ensure that patients are involved in decisions about the range and quality of services provided and, over time, commissioned by their practice.
The DES aims to encourage and reward practices for routinely asking for and acting on the views of their patients. This includes patients being involved in decisions that lead to changes to the services their practice provides or commissions, either directly or in its capacity as gatekeeper to other services.
The DES aims to promote the proactive engagement of patients through the use of effective Patient Reference Groups (PRGs) and to seek views from practice patients through the use of a local practice survey. The outcomes of the engagement and the views of patients are to be published on the practice website.
DES Documents
Timetable for Patient Participation DES
Patient Participation DES
DES Guidance and audit requirements
Practice Website Offer
FAQ:Local practice surveys
3 STEPS Guide for developing a Local Practice Survey
PPI Resources
At the bottom of this page are links to some useful tips to set up a successful Patient Reference Group meeting; and a more detailed document helping guide practices step by step to setting up a PRG.
There are a number of standard posters that can be adapted to your practice to advertise your patient reference group.
Websites
There is an exciting project that NHS Coventry is launching offering GP surgeries in the city individual websites. These websites will feature interactive functions such as an online appointment and prescription system, Patient Participation DES Tool and a simple way of managing and editing the site.
Survey Stock questions
NHS Coventry have compiled a series of sample questions from various national surveys, to help you and your Patients Reference Group develop your own practice questionnaire.
The following questions are just examples, to aid discussions within your Patients Reference Groups.
DES Survey Questions
Sample Survey 1
Sample Survey 2
Online Survey
In addition, should a practice wish to undertake an online survey that is not part of their website, the PCT have a online survey tool, which can be adapted and used to develop and deliver online surveys through, your practice website/social media forum, emailed link to your patients or used with our touch screen kiosk.
Clinical Commissioning Group Questions
The clinical Commissioning groups have been working with the PCT to establish support around this DES for practices. There is a wish for some standard questions regarding Commissioning to be asked as part of practice surveys to help inform Clinical Commissioning Group work. We will be working with CCGs over the coming weeks to develop these questions.
Information and Resources
Setting Up a Virtual Group and Online Surveys
Tips to setting up a PRG
Sample Questions for surveys
Patient Participation DES Report Guidance
Toolkits
Growing Patient Participation
Communications Toolkit
21 ways to help your practice thrive
Poster Templates
Please see below for some examples of posters you can use to promote your Patient Reference Group.
Poster Template A
Poster Template B
Poster Template C
Poster Template D
Poster Template E
For more information on Patient Reference Groups and how to amend the posters, please contact Faheem Sheikh, Senior Patient and Public Engagement Officer on tel: 024 76 46199 or faheem.sheikh@coventrypct.nhs.uk
- Audit
A continuous cycle of assessment, evaluation and adjustment. - Commissioning
Process by which the health needs of the local population are identified. Priorities for investment are set and appropriate services are purchased and evaluated. Primary Care Trusts do not provide all of the healthcare services needed by the local population, they buy-in or commission services from other provider organisations. Typically this includes local hospitals. - PCT
Primary Care Trust. A PCT is responsible for commissioning the most appropriate services for the local community. - GP
GP stands for General Practitioner. GPs are family doctors.