NHS Tayside's public partners praised for performance

NHS Tayside’s public partners praised for performance

FRIDAY, 7 JULY 2017

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED – PUBLIC PARTNERS DURING A VISIT TO THE KITCHENS AT WHITEHILLS IN FORFAR WITH TAYSIDE NUTRITION MCN PROGRAMME MANAGER CAROLINE MCKENZIE AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT CO-ORDINATOR AUDREY LINDSAY

NHS Tayside’s public partners praised for performance

Public partners who work with NHS Tayside to share their views on health-related topics have been praised for the significant contribution they make to improve services.

NHS Tayside public partners are members of the public who are interested in health and health-related issues. The public partners participate in a number of activities arranged by NHS Tayside, where they are given the opportunity to share their views and contribute to decision making to help develop and improve health services.

NHS Tayside public partners have been in place since 2003 and there are currently over 30 members.

In the last year, the public partners have engaged on a wide variety of projects or topics, including NHS Tayside’s STAR Awards, giving their view on the Out-of-Hours Service, helping to improve the patient meal service, palliative and end of life care and helping shape a campaign to prevent violence and abuse against staff.

Public partners are also involved in a number of committees and groups across the region, including Care of Patient after Death, Dental Executive & Out of Hours Committee, Highland Perthshire Ambulance Liaison Group and the Patient and Public Reference Group for Medicines.

The ongoing and significant contribution made by the public partners was highlighted in the recent NHS Tayside Public Partners annual report.

NHS Tayside public involvement manager Allyson Angus said, “NHS Tayside is committed to involving patients and the public in the planning, delivery and development of services. Our group of public partners gives ordinary people the chance to work in partnership with NHS Tayside and to become involved in the decision making processes.


“We are very grateful to the dedicated members of the public partners who give their time and commitment to improve health services for everyone living in Tayside.”

Public Partner Linda Gray said, “Public Partners are often able to highlight areas of complexity or potential for misinterpretation, and crucially see from a 'public point of view'. What I have found to be very valuable over the past year, though, is hearing about the background and history which drives change, anticipated needs and resources for the future, and the ongoing and welcome inclusion of Public Partners in NHS Tayside's many responsibilities and agencies.”


Anyone who would like to register or would like further information on NHS Tayside public partners should contact Audrey Lindsay, public involvement coordinator, on 0800 7836110 or email gettinginvolved.tayside@nhs.net

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138

7 July 2017