"New Patient Involvement group"

This patient opinion posting is on behalf of patients at the peaks unit. It is a reflection of development sessions they have had with staff, and involvement volunteers from the Rosewood involvement centre.

We / they would like confirmation of the proposal of the development of a new involvement group at the peaks unit.

All stakeholders met over two sessions and discussed how best they could work together to bring about a new involvement meeting for patients. Involvement meetings are run by patients and staff. Over the period of a few months attendance at the previous involvement meetings had been low and all parties wanted to come together to see how this could be improved on.

The main aim of involvement meeting is exactly what it sounds like involving patients, staff, and stakeholders in delivering the best care possible for patients.

On the first session patients were split up into three groups with volunteers from the involvement centre. Using flipcharts and pens came up with ideas about how the new group should run and the format itself and also how to increase patient numbers at the meeting.

Some of the ideas were around presentations making the meetings interesting having a patient suggestion scheme area for voicing ideas. They wanted it patient lead. With support from staff and volunteers. Because of low attendance this core group of patients understand that they need to sell patient to patient about attending. There was talk of peer mentor’s, and a buddy system. Talk about patient opinion and feedback in general. The patients thought it was everyone’s business to be proactive and make this work.

The patients also thought it a good idea that ward representatives could help to aid the two-way feedback. for those who do not attend hoping to enable them to come and be part of the process. There were themed items to the meeting’s contents some been around health and well-being presentations, to talk about interview training, recovery College courses, focus groups perhaps as a psychological representative, qualifications horticulture and woodwork

After the morning session from the three groups we came up with the aims of the meeting itself.

The aims were to have a therapeutic meeting feeling, encourage the service users to attend, guest speakers speaking about special subjects e. g. sports persons, interviewing, recovery College etc. Ethics and diversity, brief history of recovery journey so far, working out the best day time, suggested day was Wednesday morning’s from around 10 11: 45 PM. A main aim of the group was commitment from its members, where possible have two involvement representatives, a job advertisement for chairing the group would be developed and a role description sent out.

On the second session we reviewed all the above and with the help of staff including the clinical nurse specialist and the modern matron and also staff on the CRB came up with the following.

The meetings will run once a month on a Wednesday morning date to be confirmed.

Time of meeting 10 AM until 12 PM.

The meeting to be patient lead and chaired by a patient who would be supported by staff.

The meeting will be split up into four sections. The opening part would be around ground rules.

The next part of the meeting would be a feedback session from the wards. This would be an opportunity to bring up any worries or concerns from the wards and have them directly answered by staff attending the meeting. It was also thought that feedback could be sent to the patients Council by the representatives from the peaks.

The second part of the meeting would be a guest speaker additionally we thought the modern matron of the hospital could attend.

The third part of the meeting could be about planning and reviewing future events.

And finally any other business.

The group were very enthusiastic about the new plans, feeding back, reviewing care, guest speakers, linking to the main hospital patients Council, and the main thing being that they take ownership of the meeting themselves.

The question we would like answered which we hope will bring about change relating to listening and responding to feedback is all of the above, so

Q1 could the group have confirmation of the date and times of the meeting

Q2 How will staff support the implementation stage of the group becoming patient lead how do they plan to support this for example the chairperson.

Q3 how can the staff, senior management including the matron support the group for example inviting guest speakers relevant.

Q4 what benefits does the peaks believe the involvement meeting will have to bring about changing lives service and culture for patients at the hospital.