PPI Strategy

1. Aims of the Strategy

The strategy aims to involve patients, carers and the public in order to:

  • Obtain the best outcomes for patients
  • Improve the patient experience
  • Help us to run our services more effectively and efficiently

2. Our Commitment

The Christie is committed to involving and consulting patients, carers and the public on:

  • Current service levels
  • Changes to existing services
  • Quality of service
  • The planning of new services
  • Development of proposals for change

The Christie has strategic goals and trust objectives which support the involvement of and consultation with patients, carers and the public. This commitment is also supported by the Department of Health. Involving patients and the public in the planning and development of health services became a statutory duty on NHS Trusts from January 2003. Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 describes the legal duty on trusts to involve and consult patients and the public on the planning of service provision, the development of proposals for change and decisions about how services operate. Section 242 of the consolidated NHS Act 2006 reinforces this message.

3. The Governors and the Membership

As a foundation trust, the Christie has governors and members. They will be instrumental in helping the Christie shape its services and ensure that the Christie keeps the patient firmly at the centre when planning and carrying out its activities.

4. The Strategy

The Christie will work towards ensuring that:

Systems are in place so that there is consultation and involvement with patients and the public when planning a new service, changing an existing service, or making a decision about how services operate.

This will be supported by:

  • Having a patient and public involvement lead for each division
  • Developing patient and public involvement champions to progress initiatives
  • Discussing patient and public involvement initiatives at divisional meetings
  • Having a prompt for patient and public involvement in business cases

There is a flexible approach to involvement so that anyone, despite their background, location or particular needs can be involved.

This will be supported by:

  • Holding meetings for members and the public in their local areas
  • Involvement in both national and local specific surveys
  • Developing methods for patient feedback including complaints, comments, interviews, questionnaires
  • Involving Patient Environment and Action Team (PEAT) and other similar groups with specific remits
  • Having patient representatives on committees
  • Developing links with cancer support groups
  • Developing links with charities
  • Developing links with minority groups
  • Involvement with Local Involvement Networks (LINks)
  • Developing skills across the trust in using different involvement methods

The Governors are kept informed of patient and public involvement activities and are in a position to steer progress.

This will be supported by:

  • Having a committee of the Council of Governors with responsibility for advising the council of governors on all matters relating to patient experience and involvement
  • Providing regular reports of involvement activity for the governors to consider
  • Providing opportunities to involve governors' local membership
  • Supporting the governors in communicating with their membership

The membership is representative of the general population and is organised in such a way so their views can be accessed.

This will be supported by:

  • Having a committee of governors with responsibility for the oversight of the membership strategy and development of community engagement
  • Undertaking a demographic review of the membership
  • Identifying methods to increase membership in areas where it is not representative
  • Using the database to identify and contact members willing to be involved in surveys or projects

The environment of care and access to services is designed with input from patients and relatives.

This will be supported by

  • Having a committee of governors with responsibility for providing information to the council of governors on all matters relating to the environment of care and access to services

Patients and the public have the opportunity to give their views and influence the research programme.

This will be supported by:

  • Ensuring, where possible, that there is the opportunity for patient representation when making non-clinical decisions about new studies or trials
  • Where appropriate, seeking patient and Governor views on research projects, including the development of grant submissions
  • Making the most of opportunities for Christie staff involved in research to talk about the work they do at conferences and other meetings attended by patients and the public
  • Involving local industry when possible to facilitate the growth of research and development within the Trust

People find it easy to raise their concerns, including those from the "hard to reach" groups.

This will be supported by:

  • Having a number of ways of giving feedback so that people can use the method they are most comfortable with
  • Using the periodic demographic review to identify and make links with "hard to reach" groups

There is a system for managing a programme of involvement projects. This will ensure that each project has:

  • Objectives
  • Desired outcomes
  • Defined cost
  • Measurable results
  • Feedback of outcomes

 This will be supported by:

  • Ensuring that each project has a responsible project manager
  • Ensuring that feedback influences the decision making process
  • The development and maintenance of a database of projects
  • Developing reports which can be considered by senior management
  • The presentation of overview reports to the appropriate committees

Patients and the public, and staff are kept informed of changes which happen as a result of involvement or feedback.

This will be supported by:

  • Providing regular feedback to patients and the public and staff.

The culture of the Christie supports the involvement of patients and the public at all levels in the organisation.

This will be supported by:

  • Raising awareness of staff
  • Having appropriate training for staff

Review date: May 2010