Annual Report
Patients' Council Annual Report for 2009/10
The Patients' Council has had another eventful year during which, alongside Trust staff, we have taken part in working groups covering a large number of procedures, policies and initiatives - all with the aim of achieving the best possible hospital experience for patients, carers and visitors attending any SaSH sites. We have had events at Redhill, Crawley and Horsham hospitals to demonstrate the way in which we work and can help.
We have worked on such diverse subjects as infection prevention and control, privacy and dignity, environmental issues, travel and car-parking, as well as being an integral part of the team working on the equality impact assessment of all Trust policies. This is a statutory part of recent Equality and Diversity legislation with which it is a legal requirement for the Trust to comply. We have continued to work closely with the Trust on many issues which have been drawn to our attention by disabled patients. We have taken part in a review of catering services, which is still on-going. We have given our views on the re-introduction of patient bedside services, as well as being consulted on the current up-dating of the Trust's web site.
There have been occasions when we have constructively challenged the Trust's proposals and we have also put forward ideas which have been well received and adopted. It is this level of maintaining good working relationships which remains at the core of the success of our work to achieve the best healthcare for all patients using the Trust's services. Trust staff recognise our positive input and we are frequently asked to send Council members to represent the patients' viewpoint on many different working groups, projects and consultation committees.
In December 2009 our profile within the Trust was raised by being nominated 'Team of the Month', which was publicised in the staff magazine 'SaSH Window'. Patients' Council Members, who are all volunteers, are extremely grateful for this recognition of their work.
Our knowledge of important aspects of patient care has steadily improved through senior clinical staff giving their time to talk to us about the latest developments in their speciality and giving detailed presentations with explanations of their work. This not only educates us but enables us to then ask the right questions and to relate more precisely to the patients' experience. Our thanks to all of them.
On 13 March 2010 we held our third AGM which created much interest and discussion, especially on one of the presentations which was about the Wireless Capsule Endoscopy procedure. Partly as a result of the enormous support that this generated from those present representing patients' groups in West Sussex and East Surrey, the funding for the continuation of this procedure at East Surrey Hospital has been guaranteed.
Throughout the year we have received support from the Trust's Executive and Non-Executive Directors, especially the Director of Nursing, Quality and Governance, the Deputy Director of Nursing, Quality and Governance, as well as the recently appointed Director of Environment and Facilities. Major support has also been ever-present from the PALS Manager and her team.
During the first quarter of 2010 unfortunately several of our members have had to stand down for various reasons and we would like to place on record our thanks for the contributions they have made over the past years. During April 2010 we started a campaign to recruit new members and we are hoping to widen the demographic of the Patients' Council in order to maintain and expand our effectiveness throughout 2010 and beyond.
Derek Cooper Allyson Jenkins
Chairman Vice-Chairman
April 2010
The Patients' Council for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS
