The Patient Leadership Programme at the Royal Berkshire Hospital has successfully reached its first anniversary. Director of Nursing, for Networked Care Group, Sharon Herring leads the programme. The Trust has recruited and trained 15 Patient Leaders and it’s all about making sure that the voices of our patients, their carers and families are at the heart of everything that we do Sharon Herring says “We believe that patients can be influential partners in driving, delivering and supporting change, and providing us with constructive feedback so that we can deliver high quality and safe care."Some of the projects that Patient Leaders have been involved in include:
Implementation of the #hello my name is… campaign. A campaign that encourages all staff to introduce themselves to patients.
Breaking significant news to patients, working with doctor’s nurses and other health care professionals to ensure that significant news is delivered in an appropriate, sensitive and compassionate manner
Involved in Trust’s nutrition steering group and mealtime volunteer network.
Improving the environment for our patients and visitors.
Designing and developing a garden for the Dingley Children’s Centre
Patient Leaders are also involved in the Friends and Family Survey, patient feeding project, Research and Development, Patient and Staff Experience Committee, Patient led Assessment of Care and Environment, (PLACE) inspections, Signage project, Patient Experience and Safety Walkarounds and staff interviews
Patient Leader Roseanne Eden says: “I did not quite know what to expect when I embarked on the Patient Leadership Programme but thanks to the help and encouragement along the way. I feel that the Programme has gone very well. My experience has been varied and fulfilling and I feel that my contributions to the Programme have been valued and encouraged”.
The Trust plans to recruit a further more 20 Patient Leaders over the next year, we are looking for patients, carers or people with a passion for the NHS to join our patient leadership programme. Full training and ongoing support will be provided
For more information please contact patient Experience Team on 0118322 8082 or to apply, please register at www.jobs.nhs.uk/ and search under Ref: 193-VOLUNTEER-PL-Mar15.