The Impact of the Patient Public Panel on the Development of the New Forth Valley

Royal Hospital

Lorna Blair, Patient Public Panel member and Lesley Sherwood, PFPI Coordinator

Crieff Hydro, 4th November 2011

Outline

• Introduction• Background to the Patient Public Panel (PPP)• Involvement with the new hospital – first steps• Every step of the way• The impact • What PPP got out of it?• Key messages

Introduction

• Nurse Director, Angela Wallace, championed the formation of the Acute PPP in NHS FV

Background to the PPP

• Recruitment in 2003 : Leaflets distributed locally

• Motivation for applying: to give something back to the NHS using experience as ex-staff members & as patients.

• Invited to selection day

• Around 30 people recruited

• People with a broad, general interest in hospital services ….but with no axes to grind!

• Process supported by lay members of the Scottish Health Council

• Remit: ‘to provide NHS FV with a means of ensuring that the perspective of patients & the public was at the heart of improving patient care and experience in acute hospital services.

Acute hospitals – Stirling & Falkirk

Patient Public Panel

PPP in action

Structure for the PPP

• 3 subgroups formed • Steep learning curves for all members • Initially told one meeting/month but ….!

Patient SafetySubgroup

Patient Experience Subgroup

ClinicalSupportServicesNew HospitalSubgroup

Patient Public Panel

First steps – new hospital • A ‘New Hospital’ Subgroup formed • Invited due to clinical background and/or

experience as a patient• At all levels

New HospitalSubgroup

Project Board

A&E

Day Hosp & Therapies Women &

ChildrenMental Health

etc, etc

• ‘They’ve been involved since day one, from the very outset, when the new hospital was still an idea. They were involved in choosing a preferred bidder and then participated in the various meetings as the details progressed from large scale plans to more detailed plans. They have been involved right at the top, on the Project Board’.

Alison Brown, Health Care Planner

Involved every step of the way…

• Involved in public consultation meetings• Series of meetings with bidders – strict

confidentiality – a great privilege• Planning – all stages (1:200, 1:100, 1:50)• Building – kept updated with progress• Finishing – signage, courtyards etc• Transport planning & parking

Continuous updates on progress to PPP from Project Team/Serco

PPP involved in courtyards

Parallel activities….

• Transitional arrangements (integrating single services across 2 sites e.g. A&E / Minor injuries.

• Helping with ‘moving in’ phases 1, 2 and 3 e.g. helping reassure patients during transfer and with decommissioning at Stirling Royal

• Work on memorabilia

• Time capsule

PPP representation at official events too

Our impact?

• ‘Meetings were held twice a week and there was always good continuity with Panel members, which really worked well. They fitted in with the teams well – it was all very comfortable and there was no sense of ‘them and us’. No-one batted an eye about them being there and they certainly didn’t inhibit things. If they didn’t understand any technical language they just asked’.

(Alison Brown, Health Care Planner)

• Difficult to attribute ideas/suggestions to PPP because all part of the teams.

The evidence is in the building!

Some specific examples….

• Helped ensured Women & Children's unit was welcoming and child & family friendly (e.g. play area in reception, comfortable accommodation for patients, Amy's window)

• Coat hooks in toilets esp. disabled toilets • Shelves in disabled toilets• Sensitive about people with mobility issues

re. distances• A&E helping to ensure patient dignity &

privacy in the layout of rooms• Transport issues – esp. from outlying areas

What PPP members got out of it?

• ‘It was all new so I didn’t really know what to expect but I never imagined I would be involved in the development of the new hospital as a member of the public. It was a great privilege.’ (Lorna Blair)

• ‘Pleasure and privilege to be so highly respected and valued by architects, design people, procurement from NHS Scotland and all levels of staff and, of course, the eventual builders, as this is a first in NHS Scotland’.

(Harrison Stevenson)

Terence O’Byrne: Outstanding voluntary achievement award, inc role in development of new hospital

Key messages…

• Involvement must be meaningful: ‘We were listened to and our suggestions were acted upon’.

• Involve people from the start and at all levels• People need to be prepared for meetings• They need to be supported to participate • People need to know that they have made a

difference

Forth Valley Royal Hospital opened July 2011

Celebrating the achievement: New Hospital Subgroup at the ‘Royal’ Opening – July 2011

What next for the New Hospital Subgroup of the PPP?

• New Hospital Subgroup now Person Centred Group (focus on people not the building)

• Art Strategy

• Facilities Management Audits– Domestic Monitoring – Catering Audit

• The future– Patient Information Area – Wayfinding Service– Continuing representation on various group with a focus on

improving patient experience in the new acute hospital

Please come and visit….

• Thank you

• Any questions?