Health chiefs drop-in sessions to capture public views

Published by Emma Hemmings for HCL Marketing Communications in Health and also in Communities

Residents in Tamworth are being urged to come forward with information about their experience of local health services.

Health chiefs at South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) want to hear from members of the public about where things work well, but more importantly where people think services could be improved.

As local commissioners, the PCT has responsibility for all local health services and has made a pledge to ensure patient safety and to improve patient experience.

To capture people’s views, the Chief Executive and his team of Directors have planned a series of drop-in session across the South Staffordshire area. The next session will be held at Glascote Heath Health Centre, Caledonian, Glascote Heath, on Monday 7 December 2009 between 12.00 noon and 1.00pm.

The session will enable people to raise any comments, concerns or suggestions with the team, as well as ask any questions about the future provision of local health services, or to just provide general feedback about any experience they have had.

The team will try to respond to as many issues raised as they can on the day but will also take any more complicated issues back to the PCT for further investigation and report back directly to those involved.

Chief Executive Stuart Poynor said: “We’ve held a number of drop-in sessions in the past and have been able to take forward many of the issues raised.

“I look forward to meeting the residents of South Staffordshire to hear how we can work together to improve the quality of services for the whole community.”

In addition to the public drop-in sessions, the PCT is also introducing a number of measures to make it easier for people to provide independent feedback on their experience of local services and will be undertaking a programme of visits to existing community and voluntary group.