Want to have your say on the NHS?
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums are the new means by which all members of the public and patients of the NHS can make their opinions on NHS services heard. The Forums are voluntary groups made up of members of the public and are independent both of the NHS and the Government.
Specifically, PPI Forums aim to empower previously marginalised communities such as ethnic minority groups, to have their say. The aim is for membership on the Forums to reflect the diversity of the population it represents. The Forums also aim to be fully visible to the public and will hold meetings in public to agree work plans.
There is a PPI Forum for every NHS Trust in the country. In Northamptonshire, there are three Primary Care Trusts, two Hospital Trusts and the Trust that deals mainly with mental health facilities. The PPI Forums are backed by statutory law and can therefore have a good level of impact on decisions made within the NHS Trusts.
PPI Forums deal with issues rather than complaints but also have a remit to signpost services for members of the public wishing to make an individual complaint. An issue is an opinion which is shared by a significant number of people. The Forums seek to discover positive as well as negative opinions and are currently still recruiting for members.
The Northamptonshire Forums can be contacted through their local Forum Support Organisation at the following address:
2 Church Street
Wellingborough
Northamptonshire
NN8 4PA
Tel/Fax (01933) 271300
e-mail: carersfederation@yahoo.co.uk