Woosehill Surgery

Woosehill Medical Centre Patients' Forum - Terms of Reference

The aim of this group is to work with the practice in the pursuit of the following objectives: helping other patients to take more responsibility for their health; to suggest ways in which practice services might be improved; and to build relationships between patients and practice staff.

Your attention is drawn to the ‘Patients’ Forum’ notice board on display at reception which shows the latest news and information, publishes minutes of meetings and tells you how to contact the chairman. Similar details will be posted on our home page.

The terms of reference outlined below are selected from the National Guideline for Patients' Group and have been suggested by the forum sub-group as a meaningful starting point for the forum's continued participation.

Aims

To provide a forum for patients where they will have the opportunity to collaborate and support the Practice, and provide a patient perspective to the Practice.

Terms of Reference

1. To provide a link between Practice staff and the wider community.
2. To represent patients' views, whilst also helping patients to understand the Practice's viewpoint.
3. To promote good health and higher levels of health literacy by encouraging and supporting activities within the Practice and promoting preventative medicine.
4. To provide feedback on patients' needs, concerns and interests and challenge the Practice constructively, whenever helpful.
5. To be part of the Practice planning and decision-making process.
6. To contribute in the development of methods of communication with the wider patient population to enable all parties to put across views.
7. To liase with other patients' groups in the area and adopt best practice.
8. To actively seek new members for the patients' forum.

Guidelines

• Members must be patients or employees of the Practice
• The group is not a forum for personal benefits, individual complaints or single issues.
• The forum will advocate open and honest communication and challenge between individuals.
• All views are valid and will be listened to.
• The forum will start and finish on time.
• The forum will have an elected Chairsperson and Secretary
• Patients' Forum meetings will be held regularly.