Calling members of the public – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust wants your input into the way health services are shaped for the future, by becoming a patient partner and giving your voice to key projects and services.
The Trust is looking for six members of the public to join our project working groups and an existing team of people who play a vital role in providing a patient or carer voice when new services are being developed or changed. Partners attend virtual meetings and provide their direct or indirect experience of a service that can be in valuable in shaping and developing it. The last time new partners were recruited was in 2022, and the Trust is encouraging people from all different backgrounds and experiences to apply, including for one remunerated role.
Rabina Tindale, Chief Nurse, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, says, “Having members of the public take on roles as partners in healthcare is incredibly beneficial for both the services provided and the communities involved. I’m passionate about the role partners have, with their firsthand experience that we might not otherwise know, we can reflect more accurately on the real needs, concerns, and preferences of our patients and those who care for them by involving them in this way.
“Our existing partners tell us that they feel like they are making a positive difference to the quality of care delivered here in Leeds, and that they get satisfaction from being involved in the decision-making process.”
Roles needing to be filled include:
- Parent voices for a team looking to design and implement a system that prioritises children’s safety and makes sure parents feel empowered and supported during critical moments, which is linked to Martha’s Rule, the new critical care outreach support.
- Membership of a group reviewing our investigation reports when something hasn’t gone right to help us see themes and make improvements so they meet the needs of patients, families and the public.
- Membership of a group alongside staff who oversee an area such as medicines or Medical Devices to look at whether we meet the standards expected and what we can learn if something went wrong.
- Join a group of staff who look after one area and provide a perspective on the key points discussed and share your ideas about what even better would be like.
- Any current or former patient keen to share experiences, ideas and input to help make things better for patients, children, families and the wider communities.
- Members of the public from a non-white background, who reflect those people within all the vibrant and diverse communities of Leeds that we serve.
No special skills are needed, just a willingness to listen, consider our proposals and share your insights; together partner teams can make important changes. To find out full details and submit an expression of interest, please see www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients/get-involved/patient-carer-public-involvement/become-a-quality-improvement-qi-partner/