By Tom Moberly, 02 December 2011
Representatives should also be given administrative support to help them carry out the role and a clear job description, it argues.
But the GPC warned that paying patients to take part could lead to people applying for the wrong reasons.
Together with 20 CCGs, the Patients Association has developed 10 recommendations on how patients should be involved in commissioning.
In a report setting out its advice, the association said commissioners should be proactive in seeking out public views on key issues.
The document also advises groups to embed patient engagement in all levels of the commissioning process and to establish indicators against which performance on engagement can be judged.
Commissioning groups must demonstrate how they will inform local people of any changes to services and how and publish patient feedback on services, the report says.
'Any action taken or not taken as a result of this feedback should be reported and justified to the public in a transparent and easily understandable format.'
GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said it was 'very variable' as to whether reimbursement was available for patient representation work
He believes patient representatives should not be out of pocket. 'Anyone involved with a CCG should not be doing it at their own expense,' he told GP.
However, he warned that issues of payment beyond expense reimbursement would require contractual agreements and complicate arrangements.
Dr Vautrey believes proper reimbursement could help encourage a wider pool of patients to become involved in commissioning.
But he added: ?We need to avoid people applying because they are paid.?
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