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About The Patients Forum

email: info@thepatientsforum.org.uk

Chair 2006/2007:  Sally Brearley (Health Link)

What is the Patients Forum?

The Patients Forum is a network of national and regional organisations concerned with the healthcare interests of patients and their families and carers.

Full membership is open to national and umbrella organisations representing the interests of users of health services and their families and carers.  Associate Membership (non-voting) membership is open to other bodies such as professional and academic organisations, service providers and statutory and regulatory bodies.

The remit of The Patients Forum is to:

• Promote discussion about health issues with organisations representing patients and carers
• Improve arrangements for communication, timely consultation and liaison between the health consumer network and government and relevant statutory and professional organisations

The aim of the Patients Forum is to:

• Provide a forum for national and regional organisations representing the interests of people who use health services to share experiences, information and ideas, to strengthen their work and to participate in informing and influencing decision-makers.

What does the Patients Forum do?

• Meeting regularly to debate subjects of interest, including briefing sessions on NHS policies
• Liaising with key players in the health field, including the Department of Health and professional bodies
• Producing policy briefings and updates on issues that impact on patients and carers
• Exchanging information at meetings and via email and the website between member organisations about issues, campaigns and events
  
  Some recent Patients Forum activities
• Conference 2005    (February 22nd, 2005) 
• Meeting with government officials and Ministers to discuss policy issues
• Representation by different member organisations on committees and working groups set up by the NHS, professional bodies and other health-related organisations

Research commissioned 

Patient and Public Involvement in the NHS - What is needed at National Level?                                                        Christine Hogg and Lindsey Graham

National Service Frameworks: Involving patients and the public
Christine Hogg

Management Committee  2007

Sally Brearley, Chair (Healthlink)                                                                                                                             
Geraldine Amos (Home from Hospital Care)
Judith Wardle (Continence Foundation)

Co-opted members

Eileen Neilsen (Royal Pharmaceutical Society GB)
Angeline Burke (National Midwifery Council)                                                                                                               Mike O'Donovan (LMCA)                                                                                                                                              Francine Bates (Contact A Family)

Health Link are providing the secretariat for the Patients Forum, if you require any further information please contact Jenny Sharp at the address and phone number below:

Jenny Sharp
The Patients Forum
62, Beechwood Road
London, E8 3DB

Tel: 020 7 249 4493
e -mail: info@Thepatientsforum.org.uk