NHS Yorkshire and the Humber is committed to providing safe and effective patient centred care for everyone. Therefore we ensure that NHS organisations engage and involve patients and the public who use NHS services, we also welcome involvement in our regional SHA work.
Nationally the NHS Constitution sets out patient's rights to be involved in healthcare and the NHS, this is further strengthened by new legislation which makes clear how the NHS must involve patients and the public.
Any substantial changes are governed by sections 244 and 242 (as below) of the National Health Service Act 2006 -
- Section 244: requires local health organizations (the SHA, NHS trusts, foundation trusts and primary care trusts) to request the appropriate local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny committee to review and scrutinise the proposals
- Section 242: requires local health organisations to engage directly with the public, patients, staff and all those interested, in the planning, development, consultation and decision making on the proposals. (click here to view the section 242 guidance on the DH website)
How can you get involved?
There are a number of ways in which our NHS organisations invite comments and listen to their patients and the public -
- Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC)
- Local Involvement Networks (LINks)
- Patient surveys
- Public polling
- Voluntary and community sector organisations representing patients and care
- Patient feedback
- Patient and Liaison Service (PALS)
- Complaints
- Websites such as - NHS Choices, Patient Opinion.
Patient and public involvement strategy
The Patient and public involvement strategy for NHS Yorkshire and the Humber is currently under development but will be available here for comment shortly.
