Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 10/01/2005 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A6 Patient and Public Forums: Information for Health Scrutiny
Scrutiny Committee
10 January 2005
Public and Patient Forums:
Information for Health Scrutiny
| Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny |
Purpose of Report
1. To provide an opportunity for the Public and Patient Forums in the County to raise issues with this Sub-Committee.
Background
2. As the Sub-Committee is aware, each Health Trust now has a Public and Patient Forum. The role of the Forum is to ensure that the independent voice of patients and the public is heard at all levels where decisions are made in the Health Service. Each Forum has a key role in driving continuous improvement.
3. It is still relatively early days in this new initiative. As the Sub-Committee is aware, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, which provides overall support to Forums, will not be continuing on a long-term basis and the new support arrangements have yet to be finalised.
4. The opportunity to provide direct feedback from patients to the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee is a key way in which the Sub-Committee can seek to be in touch with the direct views of patients in the county about the services they receive. This can influence the Sub-Committee’s work programme and the way it views consultation issues.
5. This item provides the opportunity for Forums to raise strategic issues with the Sub-Committee. Each Forum has published their work plans. The plans are at different stages but, over time, there will be an opportunity to use the information gathered by Forums to assist the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee in its work. For example, transport issues and access to national health dentists are issues which have been raised by more than one Forum in their work programmes.
Recommendation
6. You are recommended to note this information.
| Contact: Ian Mackenzie Tel: 0191 383 3506 |