Introduction About PPI Forums FAQs Register online Contact us
Frequently asked questions
1. What are Patient and Public Involvement Forums?
PPI Forums are new, independent bodies set up by an Act of Parliament in 2002. There are just under 600 Forums attached to but independent from every Primary Care Trust and NHS Trust in England.

2. What do Patient and Public Involvement Forums Do?
PPI Forums play a vital role in making sure patients' and the public's views are heard and acted on by all those involved in making decisions about health. Their major functions are to:
  • Encourage others to get involved
  • Find out what people really think about health locally and take action
  • Independently watch over the quality of local healthcare
  • Shape decisions which impact on our health
  • Influence local and national decisions as part of a growing network for public involvement
  • Be a force for fairness and change
Back to top

3. How do Patient and Public Involvement Forums go about their work?
Although PPI Forums do have some formal meetings, the emphasis is on new and effective ways of getting people involved and giving people a voice in the decisions affecting their health and health services. PPI Forums develop working relationships with local people by going out into the community. In particular, they work hard to involve people who for various reasons have not, up until now, been involved in these types of activities.

Health and health services involve much more than the NHS. PPI forums communicate with and influence the thinking and decisions of all those organisations that are responsible for health and health services.

PPI Forums also monitor and inspect health services. This involves talking to health professionals, visiting facilities where healthcare is delivered and assessing this from the patients' viewpoint.

4. What do Patient and Public Involvement Forums look like?
PPI Forums have a majority of patients/users. They also involve those from voluntary organisations, community groups and other bodies that represent patients/users, carers and the public in matters related to health. In addition, they include members of the public with an interest in health and health services.

The Commission actively encourages people to apply to become PPI Forum members to ensure the Forums reflect the broad range of people in their local community.
Back to top
5. Is anyone disqualified from becoming a PPI Forum Member?
The Regulations concerning PPI Forums give several disqualification criteria for PPI Forum membership. The main circumstances in which an individual will not be able to be appointed as a Forum member are:
  • Employees, members or officers of the NHS or an organisation providing health services for the NHS in the Forum's area
  • Executive members of local authorities (Councillors) or local authority members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the Forum's area
  • Those engaged in providing Independent Complaints Advocacy Services
  • Those who have been dismissed from employment of office in the NHS due to misconduct
6. How many members are there in each Patient and Public Involvement Forum?
The Regulations concerning PPI Forums state that they must have at least 7 members. However we expect there will be 15-20 members, as decided by each Forum.
Back to top
7. How are members being recruited to PPI Forums?
Anyone over 18 years of age can apply to become a member of a PPI Forum. A recruitment pack can be obtained by calling 0845 120 7115 or can be downloaded from this website.

8. Why Can't Young People and Children Join PPI Forums
We want to ensure that children and young people are involved in decisions affecting their health. We will be consulting with a number of agencies to develop appropriate ways of involving children and young people while also ensuring suitable protection system are in place.
Back to top

Health matters to all of us, whoever we are. Apply online now or call the PPI Forum Membership Recruitment line on 0845 120 7115. Lines are open: Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm