NHS Forth Valley Acute Patient Public Panel (PPP) was established in 2004.  The aim was, and still is, to provide NHS Forth Valley with a means of ensuring that the perspective of patients and the public is at the heart of improving patient care and experience in acute services.  An initial priority was to engage PPP members in the development of the new acute hospital, Forth Valley Royal, which opened in 2010. 

How does the Panel work?

Panel members are volunteers. All new members go through a recruitment and induction process and are 'buddied' until they find their feet.
 
A Steering Group seeks to focus the work of the Panel and acts as a catalyst.  The Full Panel meets 4 times a year. These meetings are interactive and cover topics of general interest. Members also participate in subgroups meetings. The work is organised across 3 subgroups:

• Patient Experience: for example: gathering patients' views on our services and discussing with staff priorities for action and, working to improve the way in which we provide services for people with dementia. 
• Patient Safety: for example: assisting with domestic monitoring checks and, working with the Hand Washing Coordinator and the Area Infection Control Committee. 
• Person Centred: for example: influencing the development of the new hospital from the very earliest stage.  The group now works to ensure that Forth Valley Royal Hospital is ‘person centred’ for patients, public and staff. 
• In addition there are a number of Task Groups, for example: a Leaflet Task Group ensures information is patient-friendly; a News Task Group writes articles on the work of the Panel; and a Complaints Task Group is involved in evaluating the complaints process. All Subgroups and Task Groups are chaired by Patient Public Panel members.     

• Find out more information or how to join the PPP