Why involve patients and the public?
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Patients are central to everything we do
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We want to continue to improve both the clinical care that patients receive and their overall experience here at King’s
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Listening to what patients tell us will help us deliver a gold standard service which delights our patients
Involving patients and the public in the planning, monitoring and development of health services is good practice and is a legal duty for all NHS Trusts. Legislation which came into force in 2003, placed a duty on certain NHS organisations to involve and consult people when it comes to making changes to services. Although this duty has strengthened the voice of communities, NHS managers have not always been clear when they have to involve people and how best to do this. The changes to the law introduced by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 aim to make this clearer.
A strengthened ‘duty to involve’ came into force on 3 November 2008. The duty requires certain NHS organisations to involve users of services in:
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the planning and provision of services;
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the development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way services are provided; and
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decisions affecting the operation of services.
What is PPI?
PPI can take place at:
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the individual level – how patients and carers can have a say in their own care and treatment and the extent to which they share in decision making about options;
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the collective level - how patients, carers and the public can have a say in service delivery and policy and planning.
Patients and the public are people who are using, have used or may use services provided by King’s College Hospital. This includes patients, carers, relatives, visitors and potential patients, as well as the community and representatives from local patients groups and voluntary organisations.
Involvement can give us a better understanding of patient and public priorities and concerns - which may differ from those of King’s staff. Involvement can also benefit patients and the public by demystifying ways of working and showing the Trust’s willingness to share problems and problem solving.
By working together we can develop services influenced by needs and standards identified by patients and the public services which will be better targeted, more effective and more likely to meet the expectations of the people who use them. Successful involvement can also lead to an improved perception of, as well as a better relationship between King’s, its patients, carers, relatives, visitors, and its surrounding organisations and community, and ultimately to better patient care.
How can you get involved?
Patients, the public and members get involved in a range of projects from focus groups to an annual survey of members. There are also a range of projects carried out in each of the Divisions. This activity is currently being collated to provide a trust wide picture of PPI activity and outcomes which will act as a resource for those who wish to get feedback from and involve patients. Our Governors are also involved in a range of initiatives: they sit on a number of committees and are becoming involved this year in carrying out Quality Ward Rounds and in our Releasing Time to Care (The productive ward). Members will also have similar opportunities.
Contact
For more information on PPI or how you can get involved, please contact Jessica Bush, Head of Patient and Public Involvement:
Tel: 020 3299 4618
Email: jessica.bush@kch.nhs.uk
For more information on Patient and Public Involvement visit the Department of Health web site:
