Devon Association of CVSs are working in partnership with the Healthcare Commission on a short-term pilot to involve patients and the public in the work of the Commission in Devon and Plymouth; other partners in this pilot are Zebra Training, Fata He and Cornwall Rural Community Council (piloting the project in Cornwall).

Last year the Healthcare Commission consulted the public and patients on their new draft engagement strategy.  The Commission wants to improve the way it gathers the views of people about their healthcare services, using that experience to help them assess and review healthcare organisations.

Government policy is to involve local people more in decision about the provision of their health services.  In line with that policy and in response to the consultation, the Commission has drawn up plans to ensure that the views of public and patients are at the heart of their work.

As a part of this plan, DACVS have been commissioned to develop a volunteer patient and public ‘network’ in Devon and one in Plymouth.  These networks, consisting 10 members, will:
a) facilitate improved two way communication between the Healthcare Commission, local communities and individuals and help influence Healthcare Commission decisions on local priorities
b) support the Commission in testing whether improved levels of engagement add value to their assessment and regulatory processes
c) undertake five pieces of engagement work per network.  Topics will be focused on specific core standards with reference to issues raised by local engagement and other Healthcare Commission work
d) enable better outreach into local communities, improving community partnership, raising levels of awareness and trust.  This will increase the stakeholders that the Healthcare Commission can talk to, so that it can understand a broader range of issues and gather improved intelligence
e) map and channel local information obtained on local health services so that this can be directed to appropriate local agencies for action.

This pilot will provide the Healthcare Commission with an opportunity:

• to think through how the it might engage more effectively with a broader range of patients and the public
• to clarify how improved engagement might add value to it’s core business – helping to ensure that regulatory and assessment processes reflect a user and public perspective
• to develop and test an online community as a way of engaging with dispersed rural communities
• to become increasingly patient and public-focused by understanding and working with local communities
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For more information please contact
Sue Wroe at Teignbridge CVS:  01626 203050