Patient Liaison Group


The Patient Liaison Group (PLG) has been in existence for three years and is increasingly weaving itself into the fabric of the BMA. Its involvement on other committees, with consultations and projects, and input to BMA Council with patient-informed views, demonstrates the ever-strengthening relationship between the PLG and the BMA.

What is the purpose of the PLG?
The PLG provides the BMA with an informed patient view on healthcare. It works to ensure that the patient voice is represented on all matters being addressed by the BMA, and to highlight areas of concern to patients and the public which the BMA need to consider.

The PLG works alongside other BMA committees to progress matters on behalf of patients, and actively encourages interdependency of this nature. This is a two-way exchange of information working within the existing organisational structure to the benefit of both the BMA and patients.

  • Membership of the Patient Liaison Group 2008/09

    The PLG consists of people from diverse backgrounds, and draws on the expertise of lay members including some with direct patient-based links. The group has seats for eleven lay members, who do this work unpaid in their own time, and seats for five doctors. There are also a number of invited participants who bring their expertise and views to the group. Each year a number of new PLG members are recruited.

  • Strategic aims and terms of reference

    The strategic aims and the terms of reference of the Patient Liaison Group. The mission and ultimate goal of the PLG is to lead to a patient-centred approach to the organisation and delivery of healthcare

  • Privatisation of GP practices, April 2008

    Letter to the BMA's Chairman of Council from BMA Patient Liaison Group Chair outlining patient fears on privatisation of GP practices.

  • Patient Liaison Group work and achievements

    Achievements by the Patient Liaison Group include project work, committee liaison and consultations.

  • Why the patient voice is important to the BMA and in healthcare

    Explains why the patient voice is important to the BMA. Details of different committee involvement the PLG have had.

  • Future development

    An outline of some of the projects under consideration and development by the Patient Liaison Group.

  • Expert Patients Programme discussion paper

    The NHS Expert Patients Programme (EPP) has been developed to assist patients to self-manage their long-term medical conditions. The BMA patient liaison group reports here on the history behind the development of the programme and on initial evaluations of the success of the pilot phase of the programme, judged by criteria such as improved patient wellbeing and the reduced need to access NHS services.

  • Enabling people with long term conditions to self manage their health: a resource for GPs, September 2007

    Over 15 million people in the UK are believed to live with a long term condition. People with long term conditions can feel disempowered, not only by their condition but by a sense that there is nothing they can do about it. This resource aims to contribute to a doctor’s ability to support patients to find information and improve their knowledge of their condition through self management education or other means.

  • Improved self care by people with long term conditions through self management education programmes, September 2007

    Over 15 million people in the UK are believed to live with a long term condition. This paper looks at self care for people with long term conditions with a particular emphasis on self management education programmes.

© British Medical Association 2008

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Download a briefing about the PLG distributed at the ARM 2008 in PDF format (274k)

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