Wye Valley NHS Trust wants to learn from the public and has invited them to an event this month where they can share their experiences of the healthcare they or their family has received to help hospital bosses shape services in the county.

With around 34,000 patient admissions and attendances each month, there are vast numbers of current and past patients whose experiences could help inform decisions and spark initiatives to improve the quality of care delivered by the Trust.

On that basis the Trust is inviting current patients, former patients, relatives and carers, to its Patient Forum on September 27th where they can explore the kind of experiences people had on the wards of the county’s hospitals and also the kind of treatment they have received in their communities.

“The event is an opportunity for patients to share their experience of healthcare at Hereford County Hospital, Ross, Bromyard and Leominster Community Hospital and community services, including district nursing, midwifery and health visiting, and get involved in local initiatives to help improve local healthcare,” said Helen Byard, deputy director of nursing at Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“Our Patient Forums are valuable opportunities for us to hear directly from current and former patients and they really make a difference. Initiatives which have come about through the Patient Forum include the introduction of a good night charter to help ensure patients get a good night sleep in hospital, which is now being rolled out across the Trust, a recently implemented falls prevention initiative, and a carers workshop being launched together with Herefordshire Carers Support, which offer a wide range of advice and support to carers across the county” added Helen.

She added that patient representatives also get involved with carrying out regular surveys on hospital wards to capture patient experience, such as food tasting as part of national audits.

“We’re immensely proud of our staff and the compassionate care they give, but we know we don’t get it right all the time. This is an opportunity to hear from patients about what has gone well, and areas where they feel we didn’t live up to their expectations. We want to hear about the good and the not-so-good,” added Helen.

The Patient Forum will be led by the Trust’s deputy director of nursing Helen Byard at Wye Valley NHS Trust.

The Patient Forum takes place on Thursday, September 27th, and will be held in the Boardroom of Hereford County Hospital starting at 5.30pm. Light refreshments will be available.

Anyone who would like to attend the event or find out more should call Christine Rees on 01432 355444 ext 5121 or email: [email protected] to book a place.