Patient Involvement Group
Church Street Practice, The Health Centre,
Mably Way, Grove, OX12 9BN

How did PIG start?

PIG started through the initiative of the GPs of the Practice. They wished to have such a group and, it is due to them that it "got off the ground".

In the summer of 1995 letters of invitation to a meeting hosted by Dr Mark Drury and Dr Phillip Ambler were sent to various patients to sound out the idea. Some 18 or so patients came together and out of that group a steering group was formed... although we didn't quite know what we were letting ourselves in for!

It was made very clear from the outset that, while the practice would support and encourage the group, it was entirely up to us, the patients, as to how such a patient group would work and develop.

The Way Forward

We were not like the elephant with a two year gestation period; we set ourselves six months to get ready for our formal "launch" in October 1995. We chanced on the name Patient Involvement Group PIG, and it has stuck! Its name and its stylised logo are now well recognised - though it does surprise people when at meetings one introduces oneself as a "PIG" person.

We needed to make an impact to get us off the ground. Publicity, posters and leaflets were prepared. A questionnaire about practice matters eg surgery hours was drawn up with input from the Practice. A thousand copies were distributed and 356 were returned and analysed by a computer group at the Wantage Sixth Form. This was great for us and also good for them, particularly as it was real project and not a "made up" exercise. It formed part of a module for their City and Guilds Exam and the resulting exhibit with graphs, diagrams and photos was submitted for an award as well as being displayed both in the practice and the local library.

It proved to be a good send off for PIG. Lots of people knew about it and at our launch meeting there were over 120 people present and it was standing room only! A committee was elected, a constitution drawn up and we were off.

Finance

Initially, the practice supported the group... cost of hire of rooms, printing, publicity etc together with use of the photocopier. However, PIG earned money through distributing questionnaires for two MAAG surveys in the Practice. Encouraged by Dr Mark Drury, PIG submitted an entry to the Royal College of General Practitioners for the National Award for Patient Involvement in 2001 which, to our delight, we won and were presented with a cheque for £1000 at their Award Ceremony in London. Expenditure on the "Health Watch Day" in 1997 and the "2001 Health Odyssey" was largely covered by grants from the local authority and sponsorship by local groups. The production of our quarterly newsletter was our main cost, but now our 1000+ copies are produced at the Practice with PIG supplying the coloured paper.

Our Aims and Actions

PIG's aims are to increase the easy flow of information, views and concerns between the practice staff and patients. The committee aims to be a "sounding board" for the practice while not being "in their pocket".

• Committee meets every six to eight weeks.
• Public meetings, 1 or 2 per year. Topics across a wide range eg, the role of the lay non-executive on the PCT, NHS Direct, Public Health issues etc, .Out of Hours service, NHS Direct, Public Health issues etc. In addition PIG has organised large public meeting on behalf of the Wantage practices about the move to the new Health Centre attended by about 250 people, and another one for the three local practices concerning the new "Out of Hours" system.
• Meetings for practice patients eg Questions and answers with the staff. The meeting about the "Advanced Access" appointment system attracted a large audience and many questions!
• Survey work, eg initial patient survey, local transport issues, MAAG surveys, the national NHS survey of GP practices, appointment system etc.
• "Feedback" to the practice from patients via comments box, contact with committee members and "guides" on the opening of the new Health Centre and at the flu clinics.
• "Health Watch Day" in 1997 and "2001 a Health Odyssey". Some 30+ stands covered a wide range of health promotion, information from both professional and voluntary organisations relating to health and general" well-being" e.g. social services provisions, dieticians, the police and road safety, St John's, See-Saw, etc. We did not forget the more active elements for good health, eg line dancing, Gentle Yoga, etc, In each case the events were attended by over 400 people.
• Activities Day 2005 PIG and LINK held their first joint venture in the health Centre, the day was similar to the above but on a smaller scale.
• Quarterly newsletters covering immediate information about the daily running of the Practice, eg staff changes, confidentiality issues, clinic dates etc plus a wide range of topics eg work of the PCT, roles of the Practice Nurse, district Nurse, Health Visitor, osteoporosis, information on the Cancer and the Macmillan Gold Standard, the formation of the Baby Bar, First Responders, the new Minor Injuries Unit in Abingdon and many others.
• Practice Primary Care Meetings One or two members of the PIG committee attend the monthly Primary Care Meetings held in the practice thus providing regular feed back between staff and patients. There is easy and informal communication with the Practice manager.
• Public and Patient Involvement Group of the SW PCT. A PIG committee member chairs this group.
• New Health Centre A PIG member was very closely connected with the development of the new Health Centre, attending planning meetings, site visits etc.
• Flu Clinics held in the Autumn PIG regularly provides helpers.
• An Arthritis Self Help Group, was formed which, while it started under the "umbrella" of PIG, was open to everyone. (Interestingly the leader of that group went on to undertake training to run the Arthritis Care's Challenging Arthritis course and has run several courses locally.). This group ran for several years but ceased to meet formally in 2004. The remaining members still meet regularly for coffee and social occasions.
• Informal weekly "Healthy Walks" open to anyone, led by two PIG patients, are regularly enjoyed by some 12 to 18 people. This again is open to anyone.
• PIG Website has been constructed, and revised for 2007.

The Future

• Continue to encourage patients to become "involved" and to put forward their ideas and suggestions.
• Build links with other patient groups.
• Work with the Practice to set up an "information point/help desk."
• To explore the possibilities of patient shared experience.
• Continue to produce the quarterly Newsletter thus ensuring that there is good information about the development of the practice and to try to keep patients up to date with the new NHS initiatives.
• Patients need access to reliable information if they are to ask questions, form opinions and be actively involved in future developments.
• Launch and publicise the PIG website - January 2007

Underlying principle

It is important to stress that PIG is not a complaints group. While the committee will draw the attention of the practice to matters of general concern and interest, individual issues need to be discussed with the Practice manager. As a matter of principle, where issues are raised with the practice, every effort is made to "feed back" the results either through the newsletter or directly to the person or group.

In conculsion

While PIG is independent of the practice, we greatly appreciate the encouragement, support and trust that is offered by members of the practice.

Updated October 2006