Health commissioners in Kirklees are looking for local people passionate about representing their community and supporting the NHS to join their patient group.
To support better working across Kirklees, NHS Greater Huddersfield and NHS North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Groups have joined their Patient Engagement Assurance Groups together. The group plays an important part in making sure that local people are involved in helping to shape, steer and advise on engagement and consultation activity.
The CCGs are responsible for planning and buying the right health services to meet the needs of local people. This includes GP services, community health care, hospital services and medicines.
Public members will help the CCGs to improve their involvement with local people by providing feedback on the CCGs draft engagement plans. They’ll be expected to draw on their experience as a patient, service user or carer who use local services, and know what matters to their local community.
Beth Hewitt, Lay Member for Patient and Public Involvement and Chair of the group said: “When we plan local health services we want to seek the views of local people before we make any decisions. Our Patient Engagement Assurance Group makes sure we are involving the right people, at the right time, in the right way.”
The group also includes representatives from community and voluntary sector organisations in Kirklees and the CCGs partners. including Healthwatch and Kirklees Council.
Beth added: “This is a real opportunity to find out how we plan, design and develop our local NHS services. We’ll support people with their development and NHS knowledge. If people are interested in supporting us we’d love to hear from them.”
The CCGs are inviting anyone interested in the voluntary roles to complete and return a short application form by Monday 17 February. Further information about the role and the application form can be found on the CCGs website: https://www.greaterhuddersfieldccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/ or https://www.northkirkleesccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/ or by calling 01924 504900.
