Another way you can help make change happen is by getting involved with your local health system. One way to do this is by joining a local Patient Participation Group (PPG). The groups meet regularly to discuss the services on offer, and how improvements can be made. This can be a great forum to share what you have learnt from your experiences, and how this can be used to make changes. You may be joining a group that doesn’t have anyone else representing eating disorders, so here’s a great opportunity to make a difference for everyone affected by eating disorders in your area!
The names of the groups vary from place to place, and will sometimes be called Patient Engagement Groups (PEGs). Many groups are now meetings virtually, so definitely a way to get involved during this current time!
If you’re in England, you could also consider getting involved with your local Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) or Integrated Care System (ICS) for opportunities to feed into current consultations on services in your area. In Scotland and Wales the equivalent are Health Boards and Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland. You can find out further information about STPs/ICSs here
These opportunities are usually advertised on local Clinical Commissioning Group, STP/ICS or Healthboard websites, but if you’re having trouble finding them, please contact the Campaigns Team and we’ll do our best to assist you.