PATIENTS in Worcestershire are being encouraged to have their say on how health services in the area are run.

As part of this week’s Patient Participation Group Awareness Week, NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group is advising residents there are a number of ways they can shape their health services.

Many GP practices have their own patient participation groups which meet both virtually and face-to-face and the CCG - which is responsible for commissioning and organising health services in the area - runs a Better Together scheme, allowing people to put forward their views on the care they receive.

Members of Better Together receive regular updates on health issues and are invited to membership meetings.

The CCG’s engagement manager Helen Perry said patients and other people outside the NHS were often the first to spot where changes could be made to improve health services.

“We value every bit of engagement that we receive and want to ensure that all the services that we commission are done so with patient and stakeholder feedback,” she said.

“Patient participation groups are a crucial way of hearing the voice of the patient in primary care, and have much to contribute in driving up quality.

“Also by joining the Better Together scheme the public will be able to help shape the way things work in the future and work with us to improve local health services.”

Better Together is open to anyone aged 14 and older registered at a GP practice in South Worcestershire.

For more information contact your GP surgery or visit www.southworcsccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/better-together.