105. Evidence submitted by Whipps Cross
University Hospital NHS Trust (PPI 116)
Purpose of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
— To facilitate achieving the vision
in the NHS Plan, particularly that set out in Chapter 10 para.
10.35 "...reforms which will bring patients and citizens
into decision-making at every level... involvement of citizens
in redesigning the health service from the patient's point of
view."
Desirable, Practical Format Offering Good Value for
Money
— A mixture of approaches would best
meet the criteria above.
— At Whipps Cross we have a Patients'
Panel comprising local people from a range of organisations eg
Sickle Cell, Diabetes UK, Waltham Forest Asian Seniors Club plus
a number of interested members of the public who may be patients,
carers, ex-complainants. The Panel members have been invaluable
in giving feedback, editing patient information, training staff
and working with staff on project groups.
— We also link with about 45 local
organisations building relationships and exchanging information
about issues from patients, carers and visitors. They have been
instrumental in helping us improve services eg helping us design
and pilot a Carers Policy to heighten awareness of staff about
the important role carers have in our patients' well-being.
— The PPI structure within NHS Trusts
should facilitate:
— Patients being involved in decisions
about their own care.
— Opportunities to shape, comment
on, and monitor service provision.
— Equal access to services.
Why Reform after three years?
— Good question. The reforms should
strengthen the good practices established and improve the weak
ones.
— The new PPI structures should be
piloted, evaluated and then given time to settle down before any
further changes are made.
LINKs Design
Membership/Appointments
— LINKs should not be set up in haste;
the process should be properly managed.
— Each should be a small group formally
appointed and accountable to the local population for representing
their interests.
— The members should be able to provide
evidence of achievements—this does not have to be at high
level but it should not just be membership of a number of committees.
— Members should be able to demonstrate
how they would involve local people in decisions about local services
and how they would publicise the LINKs' work.
— They should understand that they
are accountable for outcomes (or lack of them).
— Members should be independent of
service providers particularly as the trend is to encourage the
voluntary sector to provide services.
— It may be necessary to pay members
a nominal sum in return for a contract - similar to that applied
to Non-Executive Directors of health trusts.
Funding and Support
— Funding should be ring-fenced so
that it cannot be absorbed into general local authority services.
— Resources should be structured, realistic
and include dedicated good quality administrative staff.
Focus Areas
— Engagement with the local population
should be a high priority so that residents are aware they have
this mechanism of influencing health and social services.
— Priorities should link to the Public
Health priorities and those agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee.
— The LINKs should publicise their
priorities widely and give local people the opportunity to influence
them.
Statutory Powers
— These should be clearly set out and
include the presentation of an annual report to the local health
organisations and local authority. Those organisations should
be required to respond as appropriate.
— Should include visiting rights, properly
managed, with clear parameters.
— Should include the right to refer
issues to the Secretary of State.
— Should cover health and social care.
— LINKs should be co-terminous with
PCTs.
— Consideration should be given to
a requirement for employers to give time off work for members—similar
to that for magistrates.
Relationship with Local Trusts
— Should be businesslike and act as
a critical friend.
— Work collaboratively but be independent.
National Co-ordination
— Necessary to give the LINKs a national
voice—to give them "teeth"—and to give support
to the local LINKs.
Shona Brown
Director of Nursing and Quality, Whipps Cross University
Hospital NHS Trust
10 January 2007
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