Whats a patient panel?
Yup I wasn't entirely sure either until I met Ann Nutt, who is the Chair of the Patient Panel at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow (PAH).
This Patient Panel is an absolutely integral part of the Quality Improvement Team within the hospital. The Patient Panel is made up of a group of volunteers who represent patients, families and
carers of PAH.
What's the aim of the Patient Panel? To identify means of improving the patient experience at PAH, encourage their application and represent patient interests in all areas of PAH. Panel members monitor the operation and standard of services across the trust by:
◗ receiving presentations each month from clinical teams;
◗ providing wide-ranging advice and assistance to many projects, departments and sites;
◗ serving as the voice of the patient and as a critical friend of the trust;
◗ by serving on al and strategic committees, specific projects, etc
One of the things that PAH has which helps them to be better at what they do is a truly excellent Patient Panel. "They advise us, they challenge us and they help at all levels from departments/wards right up to the board itself. They themselves are asked for advice by other panels and other hospitals and rightly so. We are fortunate to have this level of patient input which has been built up over many years, we are grateful for the work they do, for the challenge and for the constructive criticism and praise (when deserved) that they offer us. Long may they continue to apply rigorous methods, strong analysis of information, advice and support from an informed patient perspective" Alan Burns | Chairman
You can find out the full extent of the work that the Patient Panel undertake here and if you'd like to find out more about the please contact [email protected]