1. Beaumont Hospital Ireland Patient/Relative Focus Group. Presented by Angela Connolly

2. Building Partnerships Patients/customers/staff Health personnel: specialists on their own subjects Members of Public: specialists on their own lives Customer: suggests greater independence Patients: feel a sense of powerlessness

3. Patient Focus Group Objectives §Create a partnership of mutual trust and understanding between us, our patients and staff. §Enhance dialogue. §Listen and learn from our patients. §Enable its members to act as a consultative body for the CEO and senior executive.

4. Methodology §Gaining buy-in from management. §Advertisement, inviting applications. §Recruitment of motivated patients/relatives. §Selection and appointment of independent chairperson. §Selection of hospital representatives.

5. Function § Introduce fresh thinking and possibilities for improvement. § Provide a voice to our customers in the decision making process. § To highlight issues of importance attached to user needs.

6. First Meeting November 2001 Launched by CEO. 8 Patient representatives in attendance. 2 Representatives from the Hospital in attendance. 1 External chairperson.

7. Format of Meetings Reflect on experiences of services. S elect one good & one bad experience. Prioritise issues raised. Highlight proposals for improvements.

8. Tasks §Reviewing services, identifing weaknesses and advising on improvements. §Representing patient views on committees/project groups.

9. Working in partnership with staff: §Review of services. §Representation on Project Groups.

10. Involvement in Planning & Development of Services §Catering Audit. §Out Patients Refurbishment.  A & E information Committee.

11. SERVICE WEAKNESSES Management Communication Services

12. SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS §Admission system improved. §Management structure explained. §Information leaflet published. §Patient Food & Nutrition Group.

13. OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS §20 ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED BY GROUP. §16 ISSUES ADDRESSED BY HOSPITAL. §4 OUTSTANDING. §2 SHORT TERM. §2 LONG TERM.

14. 2001 - 2003 §Working together with our CEO/ Senior Executive Committee / Partnership. §Recommendations emanating from the group have been reviewed and changes implemented.

15. FUTURE  Involved in ongoing committees. §Introduce external groups onto Focus Group. §Consolidate links with Partnership Steering Committee.