Patient and public involvement

Patient feedback and input is very important to us. We ensure that through the patient committee we have representation at our key centre management meetings, including our divisional board meeting, clinical governance committee and research board.

Patient and public involvement is also sought through the:

• Patient forum: held between 4pm and 5.30pm on the third Wednesday of every other month. This meeting is open to all patients under the care of the centre, and their relatives, and gives the opportunity to have direct dialogue with the management of the centre. Guests from other Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust departments are also invited as appropriate. The forum provides an opportunity to discuss any issues around changes of process, facilities or service delivery.
• Service users committee: consists of up to ten patients of varying levels of injury, length of time since injury and gender. The committee meets quarterly and provides the centre with a consistent body of patients to discuss issues and redevelopment plans. Representatives from this committee sit on the divisional board, clinical governance committee, research board and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust patient experience group.
• Informal feedback: is also sought from patients at sessions held within the centre, focusing on particular aspects of the service delivered and looking at how it might be improved.
• SCI (Sky) News: a quarterly newsletter sent to over 3,000 patients under the care of the centre. It aims to keep all patients up-to-date with any changes happening within the centre and gives them the opportunity to send in interesting or relevant articles.
• Suggestion boxes: these can be found by the lift on the first floor and in the reception area by the spinal outpatients department. Comments and suggestions forms can be posted anonymously if preferred and provide another opportunity for patient feedback.