Welcome to the website that supports patients, PPGs, Hospital Patient Panels, and community based Patient Healthcare Groups.
Our members come from all over Herts and West Essex and many have a long history of working with the regional ICB to ensure the patient voice is heard by the NHS decision makers.
Welcome to the Patient Engagement Platform
The Voice of the Patient
The PEP wants to hear from you about the issues that are important to Patients in your Patient Groups. There are many opportunities to provide your healthcare service specific feedback on important Healthcare Developments and Improvement projects happening in our ICB. If you have a message please send it to the Editor@thepatientengagementplatform.org.uk
Live Longer Better
Information for every Citizen in the UK on staying fit and active and healthy. Part of the NHS campaign to encourage all of us to do things to improve our health in later life.
Click here to learn more
Live Longer Better is a new approach developed by the NHS to give people the knowledge and support not only to live longer but to live well for longer, minimising that period at the end of life when one is dependent on other people for even the most basic of tasks. Obviously the NHS cannot do it on its own. Every other government service has a part to play and so too do communities , both national, like AgeUK and local like faith organisations - churches, mosques and synagogues - and local clubs and societies
Professor Sir Muir Gray CBE MD
The NHS Live Longer Better System
Live longer better …..in Hertfordshire
The new Central East ICB meets in Public 26th June 2026
Read the meeting book here
and members of the PEP were asking questions
New content and Links
The Casey Commission: Creating a National Care Service
The Prime Minister has agreed that Baroness Louise Casey will chair an independent commission into adult social care. The commission will be undertaken in two phases with the final phase reporting back by 2028 into the Prime Minister.
Phase one The commission should start a national conversation about what adult social care should deliver for citizens and build consensus with the public on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population. It will consider older people’s care and support for working age disabled adults separately, recognising that these services meet different needs.
This should report in 2026. read more here
New Healthcare Legislation?
What is the government saying in the new Health Bill? The Bill is currently awaiting input from informed members of the public. Have your say with us, read the short article in Healthcare News below and message the editor@thepatientengagementplatform.org.uk
Also read a short history of the patient voice in Hertfordshire
A Virtual Hospital ?
What is “Virtual Hospital” - also known as Virtual Wards or Hospital at Home?
Did you know the NHS has enabled some patients to continue their care in their own home rather than in hospital?
More information and details here.
IHSCM (The Institute of Health & Social Care Management)
What are the NHS Managers talking about ???
Read the latest from Roy Lilley here
Walking in Hertfordshire
Get out and enjoy the Herts. countryside and art work and improve your health at the same time, ideas here.
Read this weeks Blog Page from the East of England senate on Back Pain click here
Access to a comprehensive guide to support services for armed forces veterans.
An update from the NHS on new plans for a single patient record
Checking for Prostate Cancer, a BBC News guide click here.
National Commission into the
Regulation of AI in Healthcare:
Including call for evidence findings.
(GOV.UK)
This article was selected by PPGUKNews in its monthly digest of Healthcare related news. If you would like to subscibe and receive a monthly report directly please email ppguknews@gmail.com . Please mention your PPG membership.
The NHS App, the future of Healthcare?
Read our analysis of the features that are being developed right now, here.
and What did the Doctor Say…..?
On average, patients don't remember up to 80% of what's said in a medical consultation*, and when families rely on a relative's account details can shift with each retelling.
Ditto is a smartphone app that records consultations and produces a plain-language summary patients can save and share with a partner, adult child, or carer. It runs under UK GDPR, supports multiple languages, and is free to use.
Ditto is looking for patients, carers and healthcare professionals to try out the app and tell it what works, what doesn't, and what would make it more useful. Your feedback will directly shape how the app develops to better serve patients in the UK.
To take part, download Ditto from the App Store or Google Play and share your experience directly with the Ditto team in the app (or by email to oli@ditto.care)
*Kessels RPC. Patients' memory for medical information. J R Soc Med. 2003;96(5):219–222.
From the Patient’s Asscn. https://www.patients-association.org.uk/
Did you miss it??
Nearly 1 in 4 people have missed an NHS appointment because they forgot or arrived too late, according to a new survey.
The NHS has launched a new campaign urging people to turn on ‘push alerts’ from the NHS App so they get reminders about appointments and can rearrange any they can’t make, helping to free up millions of appointments for others.
Read more about the Tap the App solution
Read about the PEP led project to reduce Did Not Attends in Herts
Dr Penny Dash talks about utilisation of GP Surgeries and NHS Online
The NHS may have “twice as much” floor space for GP practices and associated services as it actually needs, the chair of NHS England has said……
GP Contract 2026/27: Key Points and New Requirements
Read our bullet point summary of the changes and additions to the GP contract for 2026-27 click here
Results of the 2025 National cancer patient survey,
what should the NHS do next?
MPs to debate NHS single patient record
“...concerns have been raised, by the British
Medical Association among others, about the
sensitivity of patient data and who will have
access...”
“....we need clarity that this important GP
oversight will not be taken away, otherwise it
will raise serious questions about who is
safeguarding patients' data." (BBC)
This article was selected by PPGUKNews in its monthly digest of Healthcare related news. If you would like to subscibe and receive a monthly report directly please email ppguknews@gmail.com . Please mention your PPG membership.
In England, more than one in 10 people aged over 65 take at least eight different prescribed medications each week. This increases to nearly one in four people aged over 85. In 2017/18, the NHS spent more on prescription medicines than ever before - £18.2 billion, 40 per cent more than was spent in 2010/11. More than 60% of the prescriptions made in the community are for people aged over 60. It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of all medicines for long term conditions are not taken as intended and around one in five prescriptions for older people living at home may be inappropriate.
Learn more about the relationship between your medicines and falls & frailty here
Falls & Frailty & Medicines
The Better Health Bus
The Better Health Bus is a mobile health unit that offers a range of health and wellbeing services across Hertfordshire. Designed to help residents who may find it difficult to access traditional health services, the bus provides free, friendly support right in the heart of local communities.
To learn more about the Bus schedule and the services it offers pls follow this link.
Explore England's prescribing data
Every month, the NHS in England publishes anonymised data about prescriptions issued by GPs. How to run your own analysis click here
The Patient Participation Group Support Pages
We are developing tools to help you grow your PPG, improve your communications and help you reach more patients.
Let us know if you would like to post your details and information on this website.
A spreadsheet of all the GP Practices in the New Central East Cluster ICB (April2026)
What is a PCN and how does it work?
Could your PPG be rated as outstanding?
Follow this guide and see how you score.
Learn more about patient support agencies such as the King’s Fund and Healthwatch here
Learn more about our PPG Buddy Programme, get support, and help your PPG develop
Learn more about our PPG Maturity Matrix
A PPG based Continuous Improvement Project to reduce Primary Care Did Not Attend levels (DNAs)
A guide to GDPR for PPGs click here
A useful map of all the PPGs in H&WE . click here
CQC Inspections Analysis: Reports
Published in June 2026
“In this monthly report, FPM looks in
detail at what the CQC have publicly
reported from their GP practice
inspections during June 2026, all
anonymised. We highlight some of
the behaviours that won practices
Outstanding ratings, and the reasons
some practices were scored
Requires Improvement, or...” (First
Practice Management)
This article was selected by PPGUKNews in its monthly digest of Healthcare related news. If you would like to subscibe and receive a monthly report directly please email ppguknews@gmail.com . Please mention your PPG membership.
Learn about our the Spring/Summer 2025 PEP Blood Pressure Awareness project in association with the NHS and the British Heart Foundation
Health Care News and analysis
THE HEALTH BILL.
The Bill has passed its Second Reading on 1 June and readied for the next stage of its journey into law, the detailed examination by MPs on a Public Bill Committee, a process starting on 16 June and ending at 5.00 pm on 16 July.
Our PEP representative John Wigley submitted the following to the committee on our behalf
From the Hertfordshire Patient Engagement Platform (PEP). Our submission
The PEP is a large group of experienced and informed patients and members of the public, who have worked with the NHS in a voluntary capacity for many years, and for most of the last three years as members of the Patient Engagement Forum (PEF) set up by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).
As a result of ICB restructuring the PEF lost its mandate, with no provision made for an equivalent successor organisation, so its former members have set up the PEP.
The PEP is disappointed to find that the Health Bill proposes to abolish Healthwatch, which was set up as an independent champion of patients and public, and makes no attempt to ensure that each ICB establishes a body to secure patient and public engagement and representation. Nor does it consider the role of patients within GP Practices, only some of which currently have Patient Participation Groups (PPGs). The Bill does propose to set up a Directorate of Patient Experience within the Department of Health and Social Security; however, this will not give it the independence necessary to secure public confidence.
We therefore make four recommendations.
1) Oblige each ICB or ICB cluster to establish a body to secure independent patient and public engagement.
2) Oblige each ICB to include true patient representation on their board.
3) Ensure that every GP surgery has a PPG and each region has a PPG network.
4) Set up the Directorate outside the DHSC.
Thanks very much.
John Wigley for and behalf of the Hertfordshire Patient Engagement Platform
PARTONE.
Your intrepid health correspondent has been guided by another of his mottoes. The intricacies of Parliamentary procedure have made it hard to act on "keep it simple", but given lots of scope to apply the words "the pen is mightier than the sword."
The Parliamentary authorities have acknowledged receiving our submission to the Committee on the Health Bill. It has been circulated to members of the Committee and published on the Public Bill Committee webpage.
We can now publish it on our PEP website.
PART TWO.
Response from the Parliamentary authorities.
Dear John,
Thank you for your submission. Your submission will be circulated to members of the Committee.
The Committee may make use of your evidence for the purpose of considering the bill, including—if it wishes—printing and publishing your evidence, or making it available for public inspection in the Parliamentary Archives. The Committee will not publish or otherwise disclose personal postal or e-mail addresses or telephone numbers. The Committee has decided that witnesses can themselves publish or otherwise make use of their own evidence, once it has been published on the Public Bill Committee webpage. If, on further consideration, there is information in your submission which you believe to be sensitive, you should contact us to explain what harm you believe would result from its disclosure. The Committee will take this into account when deciding whether to publish the evidence.
Further information on the progress of the bill is available on:
Health Bill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
PART THREE.
Our submission was alongside 146 other written submissions, many from "big hitters" such as the Alzheimers Society, the British Dental Association, Carers UK, the NHS Alliance, the Nuffield Trust, the King's Fund, and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
As a result of the submissions, and witnesses who gave evidence in person, such as Jeremy Hunt MP, a former Health Minister, the Committee proposed several amendments, for example one to review the effect of the abolition of Healthwatch, another to enhance patients' involvement in their treatment by giving them a choice of at least two providers of secondary care.
PART FOUR. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
When Parliament resumes in September, the Committee will report to the House of Commons (the Report Stage), usually involving brief debate and discussion followed by a vote (the Third Reading; the First and Second Readings were held before the Committee Stage) which the government will almost certainly win. The Bill will then go to the House of Lords.
So, as the First World War song goes. "It's a long, long way a-winding."
For past commentary on patient voice in Herts and the progress of the Health Bill follow this link
Lived Experience
One patient’s Cardiology treatment in Herts Mar-May 2026
‘The greatest failing was in his inability to get hold of anyone at the cardiac centre in Watford for almost 2 weeks. He was very impressed by the responses from the surgery via his e-consult requests. His care once he was in Watford hospital was also very good except for the lack of written clear discharge information. contd……click here
Lived Experience
Lived Experience
A personal cardiology history
In the spring of 2006, at the age of 45, I began to have symptoms of severe unstable angina. However, I did not know what it was and I thought I had just pulled some muscles in my chest, or hurt my sternum. By August, I found I had to keep stopping when walking short distances due to the pain, which although not severe, was enough to make me rest. I went to my GP and he referred me to a cardiologist.
Read more and comment on LC’s blog page
Please note these reports are the lived experience of members and do not constitute medical advice, always seek professional medical help.
Lived Experience
Lived Experience
I would like to draw to your attention the risk to patients when the NHS fails to act as one entity and behaves as discreet autonomous components.
On May 22nd 2026 I was taken ill whilst on holiday in Wales, I was taken to the A&E Carmarthen Wales. The doctors there could not access my medical history and were it not for the fact that I have the NHS App, those doctors would have been treating me blind of my rather complex history. Various scans were carried out and I was discharged from A&E with a course of antibiotics. I was told to contact my GP if things did not improve. On the following Monday, I was no better and went to my GP. The GP could not access my medical record at the Carmarthen Hospital. So the GP referred me to Lister A&E. At Lister A&E I went through their triage. But they also could not access the scans done at Carmarthen A&E. Apparently NHS Wales and NHS England cannot share information.
No access to records: a patient danger
A PEP member’s lived experience
The PAL’s System in our hospitals.
If during a treatment or a visit to the hospital a patient may have a need to make a complaint, the hospital will refer them to their PAL’s system.
I have no experience with the PAL’s process at Watford or other hospitals in the area. I only report on Lister in Stevenage.
The PAL’s System in Lister is not fit for purpose because it is not appropriately staffed. A registered complaint is placed in a waiting list of six weeks before investigation is begun!
That is 42 days, and after this wait a letter is sent to enquire if the complaint matter still needs to be followed up. Over 500 complaints are received every month and the department has two and a half full-time staff to review these cases.
After six weeks the problem may well have gone away. Or maybe reported multiple more times, this to the detriment of patients! This needs to be investigated, as the hospital managers cannot be taking this issue seriously.
Observation by RGW
There is good news from the Lister PALS department, previously I have reported that the waiting list for a response to a complaint has been a standard 42 days (6 weeks) although this was shortened recently to 5 weeks it was still not acceptable.
In the last week I have been informed that the delay is now 7 working days which is a creditable improvement so congratulations to the department for their effort in making this beneficial change.
RGW
NHS Links for Patients
The East of England Ambulance Service
has published it’s corporate strategy read it here.
How does the NHS in Hertfordshire work????
Famous for its acronyms and impenetrable to the average patient, this short guide to the NHS is put together for patients by patients.
NHS Complaints
To complain about NHS services, first attempt to resolve issues directly with the local service provider or through their PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) team. If dissatisfied, escalate to the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) or, finally, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman within 12 months.
Patient Choice
Did you know that in many cases you have the legal right to choose where you have your NHS treatment? The NHS is offering more and more options to enable you to make choices that best suit your circumstances, giving you greater control of your care, and hopefully better results.
What to ask your GP
Whether it is your initial GP appointment, a consultation with a specialist at an outpatient appointment or a mental health assessment there are a few things you can prepare in advance that will help you to get the most out of time with the health professional.
The NHS Constitution
The principles of the NHS
The Patient Safety Commissioner
While the Patient Safety Commissioner is independent of government and the healthcare system the Commissioner’s funding is provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and, from 2026, via the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The PSC remains accountable to Parliament. The Office of the Patient Safety Commissioner is resourced by civil servants and maintains a working relationship with the MHRA. This helps us to influence government, offer constructive advice on policymaking, and amplify the patient voice into the health system. While we work constructively with the MHRA, we remain outside of it and are guided by the Patient Safety Commissioner’s strategic priorities.
What do you think about your GP surgery????
Are you interested to know what your fellow patients think?
The GP Patient Survey covers GP practice services and asks about your last contact, your last appointment and overall experience. The survey questionnaire also includes questions about when your GP practice is closed, your health, pharmacy and NHS dentistry services.
My Planned Care
My Planned Care gives you advice and support while you wait and helps you to prepare for your hospital consultation, treatment, or surgery. This includes giving you information about waiting times at your hospital and other supporting and local services while you wait.
This site is updated weekly and can be viewed by anyone, which means you, your family or carer as well as your NHS team can all see the latest information.
Your hospital team will be in touch with you as soon as they can. If you are looking for an update, please check this website before contacting your hospital or GP.
Your NHS Number
How to get one and when to use it.
Neighbourhood Health Centres
Learn more about new facilities to support local patient healthcare.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The independent regulator of health and social care in England link here
GP PRACTICE PATIENT GROUPS (PPGs) and the PPG NETWORK.
From our guest publication the St Albans and Harpenden Patient Participation Group Newsletter
From 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 the NHS promoted the formation of GP PPGs. It issued documents: “Guidance”, “Creating a PPG – getting started guide”, a “Standard Reporting Template”, and an “Enhanced Service Specification for Patient Participation”, which gave detailed advice to Practices, offering them “…an overall payment of £0.36 per registered patient based on its achievement of the various components…” given in great detail.
The Specification’s “Aims” began “The purpose of … patient participation … is to ensure that patients are involved in decisions about the range, shape and quality of services provided by their practice. It aims to promote the proactive and innovative engagement of patients and carers through the use of effective Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and to act on a range of sources of patient and carer feedback…” Specific aims followed.
The Herts Valleys Clinical Commissiong Group promoted a West Herts PPG Network, in April 2014 held a public meeting in Hemel, from May to June investigated if Practices had a PPG, and in April 2015 held a public meeting in Chiswell Green. I attended both meetings.
At the second, a representative from Parkfield PPG outlined the features of a good PPG.
Essential. Without the committed support of at least one partner and the practice manager and a core of patients to attend meetings and get things done, the PPG will fail.
Desirable. Someone must be responsible for admin, informing patients that the PPG exists, and recruiting them, probably a member of the practice staff with access to resources.
Activities. Issue a newsletter. Survey patient opinion, with and on behalf of the practice. Discuss patient concerns and complaints with the practice manager. Discuss national NHS issues with the practice.
Campaign on national NHS issues. Raise funds for equipment.
So, why are we now, eleven years later, making another attempt to set up a PPG network? It is said that the GP contract requires practices to have a PPG but that the Care Quality Commission doesn’t insist on it, that some practices see PPGs as a threat to professional independence, or are too busy. When the Clinical Commissioning Groups were abolished, their successors, the Integrated Care Boards were, perhaps, less committed to PPGs and, as of 1 April 2026, the individual ICBs were abolished and replaced by Regional Clusters of ICBs, whose attitude to patient engagement and representation is not yet clear.
Herts patients have taken the initiative to fill the gap. Mike Carn and Justin Jewitt have set up a PPG Network for East and North Herts, and Kevin Minier one in South and West Herts. SAHPG supports their initiative. I wish Justin and Kevin every success and offer them three words of advice: “Keep things simple.” Don’t entangle and frustrate PPGs in committees, paper studies, working parties etc. Do encourage, foster and support them.
JW (Chair SAHPG.) April 2026
The Hertfordshire Event and PPG Newsletter Page
Ashwell Surgery visits Ashwell Primary School
‘Here in Ashwell our PPG is made up of a committee of patients appointed to represent the various villages covered by our rural practice. We decided to ask Ashwell Primary School to nominate someone to represent parents and younger children on our committee. Then we offered to meet the school council to answer their questions about our surgery. Katie Prince, our Practice Manager, and PPG Chair, Peter Chapman, led the exchange of views recorded in the slide show here. We have invited next year’s School Council to another meeting at the surgery. By these actions we hope to make our practice less forbidding and more welcoming to our younger patients.’
The Carers pages
Herts Careline
The subsidised price you pay for your Herts Careline service includes:
Monitoring and answering of all calls, made from your alarm equipment, by our call operators at our 24/7 Hertfordshire Control Room.
If you’re using digital equipment, all your call charges made from your equipment when it is activated are included in the price.
Response Services, such as the British Red Cross and Early Intervention Unit, to visit your home to check on you if you’re unable to speak to us when you activate your equipment, or if your contacts are not available to check on you.
Maintenance of your equipment if you experience an issue or have a question.
A free key safe and medical alert card
Support for Unpaid Carers
If you provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help, you are an unpaid or informal carer. The NHS and its partners recognise the vital role carers play and are committed to supporting your health, wellbeing and ability to continue caring.
Carers Champion at Your GP Surgery or Service
Many GP practices and NHS services have a Carers Champion (sometimes called a Carers Lead). This is a member of staff who:
· Acts as a named point of contact for carers
· Helps ensure carers are identified and supported
· Links with local carers organisations and support services
How to find your Carers Champion
· Ask your GP reception team who the Carers Champion is
· Check your GP practice website or noticeboard for carers information
Availability and roles may vary by surgery or service
Registering With Your GP as a Carer
Why register?
Telling your GP practice that you are a carer means your caring role is recorded on your medical record. This helps your GP team understand the pressures you may be under and offer more tailored support. Common benefits include:
· Being offered flexible or joint appointments (for example, back‑to‑back appointments with the person you care for)
· Signposting to local carers’ support and community services
· Support with your own physical and mental health
· Access to vaccinations and health checks where appropriate
· Help with referrals for a carers assessment, benefits advice or social prescribing support
How to register
You can usually register as a carer by:
· Completing a carers registration form on your GP practice website, or
· Asking at reception for a carers registration form and returning it to the practice
Once registered, the practice can discuss what support may be helpful for you.
The Carers pages contd.
Services for Unpaid Carers
Primary Care (GP and Community Services)
Primary care teams can support carers through:
· GP, practice nurse and healthcare assistant support for carers’ own health
· Social prescribing and health and wellbeing coaching
· Referral or signposting to carers assessments and voluntary sector services
· Adjustments to appointment systems to better suit carers
Acute Care (Hospital and Specialist Services)
Hospital and specialist NHS services aim to:
· Involve carers in care planning and discharge planning (with patient consent)
· Recognise carers’ needs during hospital admissions
· Signpost carers to local support when a person is diagnosed with a long‑term condition or admitted to hospital
Keeping Up to Date
This page will be updated regularly to reflect:
· Changes to NHS or local authority services
· New carers support initiatives
· Events, training and groups for carers
Please check back regularly for the latest information.
Feedback and Getting in Touch
We welcome feedback from carers.
· Good news or positive experiences – tell us what is working well
· Issues or concerns – help us improve carers support and services
Use the feedback link below to share your views or suggestions so we can continue to improve support for unpaid carers.
Contact Editor@thepatientengagementplatform.org.uk
Local and National Support Services
Local Support
· Carers in Hertfordshire – Free advice, information, training, carers groups, mentoring and carers passport scheme for unpaid carers living, working or caring in Hertfordshire. Visit Carers in Hertfordshire
· Hertfordshire County Council – Adult Social Care – Carers assessments, emergency planning, respite support and information on benefits and care options. Hertfordshire carers support
Social Services
· Hertfordshire Adult Social Services – Support for carers including assessments, planning for the future and help arranging care and short breaks. Adult social care in Hertfordshire
Condition‑Specific Support
· MS Society – Information, helplines, local groups and support for people affected by multiple sclerosis and their carers. MS Society support
· Parkinson’s UK – Advice, helplines, local groups and resources for carers of people with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s UK support for carers
· Age UK – Practical and emotional support, carers groups and benefits advice for those caring for older people. Age UK carers support
· Macmillan Cancer Support – Money Advice – Financial guidance, benefits advice and support for carers of people affected by cancer. Macmillan financial support for carers
Do you have questions about Continuing Health Care?
The Carers pages contd.
NHS ReSPECT Form (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment)
The ReSPECT process creates a personalised emergency care plan agreed between you and a healthcare professional. It is widely used across Hertfordshire, including by East & North Herts NHS Trust, GPs, community teams, and the ambulance service.
Purpose
To record your wishes, priorities, and clinical recommendations for emergency situations when you may not be able to express them.
How to Get One Completed
· Step 1 - Arrange a conversation with a clinician
Contact your GP, hospital consultant, or a senior nurse. ReSPECT forms must be completed with a registered healthcare professional.
· Step 2 - Prepare for the discussion
Consider your priorities (e.g., comfort vs. life-prolonging treatment), preferred place of care, and any treatments you would or would not want.
· Step 3 - Clinical discussion and documentation
The clinician records your preferences and their clinical recommendations on the ReSPECT form.
· Step 4 - Sign-off and distribution
You receive the original form. Copies are shared with your GP, community teams, and-if relevant-hospital records and the East of England Ambulance Service.
Key Hertfordshire Contacts
· GP Practices - All Hertfordshire practices support ReSPECT discussions.
· East & North Herts NHS Trust (Lister, New QEII, Hertford County Hospital) - ReSPECT used across inpatient and outpatient services.
All information from either the Office of the Public Guardian, NHS England or from member lived experience.
How ReSPECT and LPA Work Together
· A ReSPECT form guides emergency clinicians on your treatment preferences.
· A Health & Welfare LPA gives your attorney legal authority to make decisions if you cannot.
· Clinicians will consider both documents together when making decisions.
PEP helpful comment
Doing your own LPAs is relatively straightforward and there is no need to use a solicitor or other 3rd party unless you are really stuck, or you want to draft complex ones. It’s worth pointing out that the ‘paper’ versions can be completed online before printing. LPAs can be completed and signed but not registered immediately. They can then be registered at a later date by the attorneys if the doner has lost capacity.
Here is a link to the government webpage here.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) - England & Wales
LPAs are legal documents registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). They allow you to appoint trusted people to make decisions if you lose capacity.
Types of LPA
Health & Welfare - Medical treatment, care decisions, life-sustaining treatment.
Property & Financial Affairs - Money, bills, property, banking.
How to Complete an LPA
Step 1 - Decide your attorneys
Choose one or more trusted individuals. They must be over 18 and mentally capable.
Step 2 - Complete the forms
Forms can be completed online or on paper via GOV.UK. Hertfordshire residents can also seek help from Citizens Advice or local solicitors.
Step 3 - Sign with a certificate provider
A certificate provider confirms you understand the LPA and are not under pressure. This can be a professional or someone who has known you for at least two years.
Step 4 - Get all signatures in the correct order
Donor → Certificate Provider → Attorneys.
Step 5 - Submit to the OPG for registration
Send forms and payment to:
Office of the Public Guardian, PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH.
Fees (as of 2026)
£82 per LPA (Health & Welfare and Property & Finance are charged separately)
Fee reductions available for low income; exemptions for certain benefits.
Local Support in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Citizens Advice - Free guidance on completing LPAs.
Age UK Hertfordshire - Support for older residents.
Local solicitors - Can prepare and register LPAs for a fee
The Hospital Patient Panel Support Page
We are developing tools to help you grow, improve your communications and help you reach more patients.
Let us know if you would like to post your details and information on this website.
News from the Patient Panel at the Princess Alexander Hospital
The Patient Panel comprises a group of volunteers who support staff and patients here across the Trust. The members have a wide range of backgrounds which brings a broad spectrum of both personal and professional expertise to the group.
They act as a critical friend and represent the patient voice at senior management meetings. (JT April2026)
Note at the time of writing and despite numerous enquiries there is not a Patient Panel at the the Lister Hospital. The PEP feel this is a valuable missed opportunity.
Quality & Improvement
The patient voice groups in Hertfordshire and west Essex have previously participated in and in some cases led Quality Improvement projects across the region. We are embarking on new Continuous Improvement projects all the time.
For reference the NHS Quality Strategy
Did Not Attends in Primary Care
Click here to read more about our project to reduce levels of Did Not Attends in Primary Care.
When a patient has made an appointment at their GP surgery and does not attend, and also does not tell the Surgery they cannot attend, then that becomes a Did Not Attend (DNA) statistic. At a time when getting to see your Primary Care practitioner is still a priority for so many patients a 4% level of DNAs or 1 in 25 failed appointments is a real waste of resources.
Polypharmacy, Structured Medicine Reviews, Falls & Frailty ( and A&E admissions)
Coming soon
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
The Patient Engagement Platform was asked to help the NHS understand why patients in Hertfordshire were not
participating in the nationwide AAA test to the same extent as those in other NHS regions.
Specifically we hoped to understand the following statistics for Herts patients attending for an AAA scan in 2024-25.
•In Herts 82.3% percentage of men tested (Highest South Devon @89.7%)
•In Herts 73.8% of men in the lower deciles 1-3 were tested ( below acceptable threshold). (NHSE 82.2%, highest South Devon at 85.5%)
•In Herts 100% of men with an abnormal scan had their screens reviewed within 21 days.
•In Herts 44.8% of men with a notable aneurysm had a nurse assessment within 12 weeks of the conclusive scan ( the only service to not meet the acceptable threshold). (NHSE 79.9% , best Leicester 100%)
Summary
Over 700 members of the ‘patients and community ’, together with Patient Participation Group members and members of the Harlow Ethnic Minority Umbrella (HEMU) were surveyed.
Local study
Harlow (Essex) can be viewed as ethnically diverse with some areas of economic deprivation. Harlow feedback can be seen as a relevant indicator for the low attendance (73.8%) in similarly deprived areas of Hertfordshire.
56 patient responses were received together with extensive comments and observations from HEMU.
Most responses were from patients that had experience of an AAA scan, either personally or a partner/family member.
For more details and survey outcomes click here
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We look forward to working with you.