All Rochdale GP surgeries now have patient groups in place

Monday, 12 May 2025 11:58

By David Murphy

Every GP practice in Rochdale now has an active Patient Participation Group, thanks to support from Healthwatch Rochdale.

Healthwatch Rochdale has confirmed that all GP surgeries in the borough now have a functioning Patient Participation Group (PPG), marking a significant step forward in involving local people in shaping NHS services.

PPGs are a requirement under the NHS General Medical Services contract and give patients a say in how their local surgery is run. Groups are expected to reflect the diversity of the practice population and provide regular feedback that influences how care is delivered.

Three years ago, just over one in five GP surgeries in Rochdale had an active group. That figure rose to 43% in 2024. Now, for the first time, every practice in the borough has met the national standard.

Healthwatch Rochdale has spent the last 18 months offering training, advice and hands-on support to help practices set up and strengthen their groups. This included online learning sessions, one-to-one meetings, and resources such as a plain English guide and best practice templates.

The organisation also worked closely with group chairs to help boost engagement and support better communication between surgeries and patients.

Support provided included:

Two training sessions for Practice Managers
Ten one-to-one support visits
A survey to identify barriers to setting up PPGs
Development of easy-to-use guidance materials
A best practice pack now available on the Healthwatch Rochdale website

To build on this progress, Healthwatch Rochdale plans to:

Continue supporting practices that need help with recruitment or meeting planning
Work with Primary Care Networks to encourage a more consistent approach
Launch a training pack for new and existing surgery staff
Hold quarterly meetings where PPG representatives from across the borough can share ideas

The move is being celebrated as a key moment giving residents across Rochdale a stronger voice in the future of primary care and the services delivered at a local level.