"New Patient Forum"

Many thanks for your feedback. I agree that it was a very productive day and on the basis of the group findings we have revised the agenda for our monthly patient forum meetings to include the recommendations of the group.

The findings were fed back at the most recent patient’s forum on the 18th of May with the following changes due to be implemented from our next meeting in June. The number of staff indicated to attend are 4 in total, key people highlighted are the General Manager, Modern Matron, Involvement Lead and the Therapy Services Manager with agreed deputies in their absence. Up to twenty patients can attend with trained representatives from each ward who will role model and support those who haven’t attended before. We hope that this will help Patients feel more empowered and less daunted.

It is worth highlighting that there are further training events being rolled out to Patients including ‘how to chair a meeting’ ‘how to be a representative’. There will also be training for vocational opportunities such as minute taking etc. The future overall ethos of the Patient’s Forum is intended to be that this is a meeting ran by patients for patients with support from staff as required with therapeutic value attached with regards to confidence building, learning and practising new skills.

This revision has been possible with the support of our colleagues who volunteer and the Involvement and Experience Lead for the Forensic Services for which we are very grateful.