UK
Network of Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPIFs) is to be Strengthened in UK
By DOH, UK
Mar 18, 2005, 16:16

The network of Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPIFs) is to be strengthened by merging existing Forums so that there is one per PCT. Forums will also get more support to allow them to further develop and thrive, Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced recently.

PPIFs were established in December 2003 to monitor and review health services from the patient�s perspective, to seek the public�s views about health services and to make recommendations to the NHS based on those views.

Following a recent consultation exercise about future support for PPIFs, which received over 4,000 responses, the Government will:

* Strengthen the network of Forums by merging existing PPIFs so that there is one per PCT. Current numbers of Forum members will be retained and are expected to grow further;
* Reduce bureaucracy by introducing fewer, larger contracts with the independent sector to provide staff support to forums;
* Require all PPIFs to have Chairs appointed by NHS Appointments Commission and empower PPIF members to influence who is appointed;
* Develop a resource centre for Patient and Public Involvement to provide the advice and guidance that PPIFs have asked for.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said

�Since their establishment, Forums up and down the country have been making a positive difference to local health services. For example, Forum members in the North West have set up a �Bugwatch� campaign to monitor cleanliness. Three Bristol Forums teamed up to improve local Accident and Emergency services.

�The huge response to the consultation has been encouraging and constructive but many Forum members have indicated that they need greater support in order to deliver their monitoring and influencing agendas. We are responding to this by strengthening support arrangements to enable Forums to evolve and allow them to thrive. Our dialogue with Forum members will continue to ensure that they are involved in discussing how these changes will occur.�


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