Patient Panel
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is establishing a new Patient Panel designed to increase the involvement of patients, as well as their families and carers, in improving and shaping the future of our services.
The panel will be made up of patients, family members or carers of patients who have used SCAS services, as well as representatives from voluntary groups and partner organisations.
It will offer patients the opportunity to gain insight and have a say on service developments and improvements, including across our 999 emergency services (both call centre and operationally), Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) and NHS 111.
The level of participation required to be on the panel will be flexible, meaning people can get involved in a way that suits them.
Participants will be able to attend regular meetings, either in person or online, to discuss issues, as well as share views on specific areas of interest, including the design, development and delivery of Trust services through focus groups or via surveys and other online feedback.
SCAS looks forward to recruiting participants and establishing a new option for patients and others who want to work with us on our journey to improve our services.
Eligibility:
- You must be 16 years of age or older (18 years or older for certain roles)
- You must not be a current employee of SCAS, however, our volunteers can apply
- You must live in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire or Sussex
- You are able to listen and discuss different perspectives with others in a constructive way.
Levels of involvement:
There are three tiers to the panel which members can contribute to.
There may be an opportunity to volunteer for more than one tier of the panel and all sections hold equal importance in the contribution they will make to service improvements within the organisation.
A panel member may also be able to gain experience in one section of the panel which may help them to participate in another section.
Tier one: Influence
This is the most involved level of participation where you can take you can take an ongoing, active role in meetings and committees usually held online and, on occasion (with prior notice given), at our sites including our headquarters in Bicester or Otterbourne to enhance decision-making and discussions.
Tier 2: Co-produce
In this level of participation you will be invited to meetings and discussions groups and can contribute by providing opinion, experience and expectations to inform improvements.
Tier 3: Consult
This is the most flexible level of participation to fit around your schedule. Your role would involve responding to surveys, giving feedback on strategies, initiatives and publications and giving your thoughts on events and campaigns on an occasional basis.
This level of involvement is great for you if you want to be involved but can’t commit to periods of time and if you are not able to, or don’t want to, travel.
What support can you expect from us?
There will be a dedicated Patient Voice Panel Lead to provide ongoing support to the panel and its members.
Members will be able to contact the lead with any information, questions or concerns that they may have and will ensure you receive regular updates on the work the panel has undertaken, as well as any direct feedback from projects or service developments you have been involved with.
You will receive an appropriate level of support, training and education so you are able to effectively contribute towards relevant Trust projects and workstreams.
Further Details:
If this is something you may be interested in, you can find out more and apply via the South Central Ambulance Charity website.
For an informal conversation about the roles, you can contact Nikhyta Patel, Patient and Public Engagement Facilitator, via email to arrange a suitable time: patientengagement@scas.nhs.uk.