Nwicker60
25-Oct-12, 09:42
Wider cross-section would be more effective
NHS Highland has launched an appeal for volunteers to sit on Caithness General Hospital ’s patient council.
The council’s 10 members are mainly older people and only two are men.
It’s hoped to attract more members, particularly male, to have a wider cross-section of the community on it and to lower its age profile.
Pauline Craw, NHS Highland Rural General Hospital Manager, said: “The patient council is extremely important to us and plays a key role in helping us shape what we do and how we do it. However, there is a feeling that it could be even more effective if a wider range of people served on it. It would be great, for example, if some young people – including school pupils – served on it.”
The patient council meets every two months, under Pauline’s chairmanship, and serves as a liaison group which links the hospital with the community it serves.
As well as discussing latest developments at the hospital and giving hospital staff feedback on community concerns, the council gets actively involved in hand hygiene audits, with members monitoring visitors’ usage of hand cleaning equipment. It also has guest speakers at each meeting.
Pauline Craw added: “Since the patient council was set up in 2000 it has been a valued link with the Caithness community and assists our staff greatly by providing a patient’s perspective on the services we provide. I would urge anyone interested in volunteering to serve on it to get in touch with Kay Oswald on 01955 605050. Anyone individual or carer who uses or has used the services at Caithness General Hospital can join.”
NHS Highland has launched an appeal for volunteers to sit on Caithness General Hospital ’s patient council.
The council’s 10 members are mainly older people and only two are men.
It’s hoped to attract more members, particularly male, to have a wider cross-section of the community on it and to lower its age profile.
Pauline Craw, NHS Highland Rural General Hospital Manager, said: “The patient council is extremely important to us and plays a key role in helping us shape what we do and how we do it. However, there is a feeling that it could be even more effective if a wider range of people served on it. It would be great, for example, if some young people – including school pupils – served on it.”
The patient council meets every two months, under Pauline’s chairmanship, and serves as a liaison group which links the hospital with the community it serves.
As well as discussing latest developments at the hospital and giving hospital staff feedback on community concerns, the council gets actively involved in hand hygiene audits, with members monitoring visitors’ usage of hand cleaning equipment. It also has guest speakers at each meeting.
Pauline Craw added: “Since the patient council was set up in 2000 it has been a valued link with the Caithness community and assists our staff greatly by providing a patient’s perspective on the services we provide. I would urge anyone interested in volunteering to serve on it to get in touch with Kay Oswald on 01955 605050. Anyone individual or carer who uses or has used the services at Caithness General Hospital can join.”