Patient and Public Involvement Forums A presentation from Patient and Public Involvement Forum Members in Bolton Michael Phillips, Vice Chair, Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust PPI Forum Harold Hunter, Chair, Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust PPI Forum

What are PPI Forums Formed by the Government in 2003 to put patients at the centre of everything the NHS does Volunteers who meet with powers from government to monitor healthcare services The work of Forums is to improve Patients’ experiences of health services.

PPI Forums 572 forums began, one for every NHS trust, NHS Foundation Trust and Primary Care Trust in England. An independent ‘critical friend’ who works closely with healthcare organisations representing the public’s and patients’ views. Members have been recruited by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. All members are Criminal Records Bureau checked

Forums’ Remit Monitor and review the services provided by the Primary Care Trust, Hospital Trust or Mental Health Trust Monitors how the trust complies with Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act Get the views of patients, users and carers about the services Make reports and recommendations about those services based on the views of patients and the public. Work with other Forums on shared interests

The Forums’ Powers Get information from the NHS and other authorities within 20 days from their initial request Refer health matters of concern to local- authority Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC) Enter and inspect premises owned or controlled by the PCT and Trusts such as, hospitals, GPs and Dentists

How Forums Work Forum members are volunteers and share their interest in health issues They work with the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and the Forum Support Organisation They work with their associated Trust or PCT They usually meet monthly with meetings open to the public Forums develop an annual workplan THEY ARE INDEPENDENT

PPI Forums in Bolton Bolton Primary Care Trust Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust North West Ambulance Service

Some Issues Forums have looked at Information available at GP surgeries Hospital Cleanliness Environmental conditions in Mental Health ward areas Bolton Improving Care System Unscheduled Care and ‘Out of Hours’ services Hospital Nutrition Primary Care Premises

How have the forums carried out their work Involvement in groups and committees within local healthcare organisations Carried out surveys organised nationally and locally eg. ‘Bugwatch’ and ‘GP Patient Information Survey’ Responding to consultations Presenting Annual Healthcheck Statements to the Healthcare Commission Visiting healthcare settings Working with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Work carried out 2007/8 Information at GP surgeries, Pathology and Dentistry surveys Continuing to visit mental health settings across Bolton, Salford and Trafford Foundation Trust structures Worked with Bolton Metro on the creation of the Bolton LINk Creation of a ‘Patient Diary’

Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust - VISITING Visits – ‘J’and‘K’ wards, the Redwood Unit, Meadowbrook, Moorside, Edenfield, Wentworth and Kenyon House, Brook Heys - inpatient, medium secure, substance misuse, and older people’s mental health services Protocol for visits - preparing, visiting and producing a factual report presented to the trust Things have changed!!

Networking Working and networking with other Service User Groups such as Bolton Patients Council for Mental Health, User Advisory Consultative Team, Mental Health Independent Support Team and Bolton Association of Network Drop-ins, ‘Take it to the Top’ Service users have contributed to the programme of forum’s visits and what its like to be an in-patient

Challenges faced by the Forums Facing abolition Moving into a Local Involvement Network Still having a voice in the midst of these changes Low membership numbers in some forums Working as volunteers in healthcare organisations Working with ‘hard to reach groups’ Publicising and promoting the Forums Reflecting the patient’s experience which can be affected by their illness

The Future Commission For Patient And Public Involvement In Health will be abolished in March 2008 PPI Forums will be abolished in March 2008 Local Involvement Networks (LINks) will be set up for each local authority with a Social Services Department from 1 April 2008

Any Questions ?