Thanet Health Network Needs You!
Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group is a dedicated group of healthcare professionals, working in partnership with local communities and authorities to ensure the people of Thanet receive the best possible healthcare.
The vision is to transform the health of people living and working in Thanet and the CCG works with local people, communities and partners to deliver high quality services that are patient-focused, safe and innovative. The CCG want our local communities to be ambitious about their own health and to challenge the CCG to commission the best possible care solutions.
To support this vision the Thanet Health Network was set up to make sure that everyone in Thanet gets a chance to make their views known – whether as individuals, through local community or voluntary organisations, or as part of a patient group.
The Network is a virtual group of patients, members of the public and voluntary groups from across Thanet. Members receive updates on health issues in this area and are able to give their views on healthcare decisions.
The CCG wants everyone who lives in and loves Thanet to get involved. By becoming a member you can decide to participate as much or as little as you like. The network’s feedback helps the CCGs team of local GPs to decide how local health services are planned and designed.
Click here to join Thanet Health Network
Note:
The following article gives just one example of how the network works:
THANET HEALTH NETWORK – WORKING EXAMPLE
Thanet Patients have their say in Patient Transport
(News article on NHS Thanet CCG website – June 2015)
Members of the Thanet Health Network have been helped to put together a charter that outlines the expected quality of future NHS patient transport services in Kent and Medway.
The procurement of non-urgent patient transport services is now underway, with the expectation that the new service will be up and running by July 2016.
NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) lay member for patient and public and patient involvement, Clive Hart said: “Patient transport is an essential lifeline for the most vulnerable people – and it’s essential that the service delivers quality, care and compassion. I’m proud that the people of Thanet – including patients – have been so involved in this process.
“Thanks to patients having a say, a charter has been produced, and the service specification has been influenced by patients – putting their needs first.”
The current provider of transport services is NSL, who have been delivering the service since 2013, but the NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCG) s in Kent and Medway will be looking for a new provider in 2016.
But the views of the users of the service – the patients – are essential, and that’s why they have been informed about the changes and their views sought.
In Thanet, 40 patients from the Thanet Health Network, carers and members of the local voluntary and community services have been involved in drawing up a charter.
Along with representatives from other areas of Kent, those from Thanet have drawn upon their experiences and expectations of patient transport.
Clive Hart said: “From the booking of the appointment and the level of care, to the journey itself, patient transport matters.
“Many people think that the NHS is so large and so complex, its delivery is beyond their control. But patient power does matter, and it can make a difference. Local CCGs are accountable to local people.”
He added: “If you want to make a contribution to your NHS, join the Thanet Health Network and put your views forward. And like those who have been instrumental in bringing about the transport charter, you make the NHS even better.”
Written into the service specification is the need for:
· Patients to be transported in safe and timely manner in a vehicle appropriate to their needs.
· Patients will not spend an unreasonable amount of time on vehicles.
· Patients will be collected promptly, in reasonable timescales following their appointment.
· Patients will be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect at all times.
· There will be no detriment to patients’ health and wellbeing during their journey.
