NHS Coventry

Step 1: The initial set-up meeting took place in October 2008.  NHS Coventry has set itself a target that 95% of practices should have Patient Participation Groups (Patient Panels) by 2013.  Key challenges are to address health inequalities, to drive up the quality of primary care and to improve commissioning.

Step 2: A mapping exercise has already been carried out.  This showed that 23 of the 63 practices already have a Patient Panel and a further 13 are looking to set one up.

Step 3: The existing Panels already meet on a six-monthly basis and .  NHS Coventry is looking to identify local champions for greater patient and public engagement at practice level.  They also hope to develop an advanced model of patient and public involvement in commissioning decisions.

Step 4: NHS Coventry is reviewing its action plan to try to ensure that Patient Panels are as effective and broadly representative as possible.

Step 5: The PCT had already produced its own guide to setting up new PPGs and this has been supplemented by the Growing Patient Participation campaign resources.