NHS England (Wessex) is looking for an “enthusiastic patient representative” who would like to be involved in the commissioning of the Surrey breast screening programme (This also includes North East Hampshire and Farnham).
Your engagement would be done mainly online, therefore travel may not be required. But you will need to be comfortable with the use of IT.
It is likely that your commitment will be over the following dates:

• evaluation of bids will take place are via online review 29/6/16 – 5/8/16
• a Moderation Meeting will take place sometime during 8/8/16 -12/08/16
• any final moderation needed will take place 29-31st Aug 16, but this may not be required
• a brief training session can be done online

If you are interested, please contact Costin Matei, Patient Experience Manager, NHS England (Wessex) – email: cmatei@nhs.net

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In 2015, an expert clinical review by the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland concluded that change was needed at both Southampton and Portsmouth hospitals to ensure safe, high quality vascular services and to meet the requirement to provide seven-day working across the NHS.
Their report recommended the best way of securing resilient services would be the creation of one Wessex Vascular Network. Our doctors agree. Together they have developed a plan which they believe will create a world class service in Southern Hampshire.
They believe that by concentrating emergency, major and more complex cases at Southampton hospital, with support services available at Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Winchester, will bring about major benefits for patients. In practice, it will create a stronger network of vascular services across Southern Hampshire, ensuring that there are more doctors with the right specialist skills to treat patients 24/7.
Do you rely on these services, or have you used them in the past? 
They  want to hear from patients, relatives, carers and the public across Southern Hampshire, so that they can make any changes work in the best interests of patients.
Join the discussion – attend a Listening EventA series of “listening” events for local people, patients, carers and relatives who have an interest in vascular issues are being held in May.
This is an opportunity to hear from NHS England and local vascular surgeons about proposals to change local vascular services. These are drop in events and everyone is welcome:

• Newport, Isle of Wight – 17 May  

http://haveyoursayisleofwight.eventbrite.co.uk

• Winchester – 19 May 

http://haveyoursaywinchester.eventbrite.co.uk

Patient Reference GroupNHS England, working together with the hospitals and local clinical commissioning groups (led by GPs) is keen to involve patients who have an interest in or have used vascular services, which is why we are setting up a patient reference group.
The aim of the Patient Reference Group is to ensure that patients’ views are incorporated into the development of vascular services and to help ensure we understand how the changes can meet patients’ needs.
Please let Costin Matei (cmatei@nhs.net) know if you would be interested in being part of this Group by Monday, 16 May 2016
Have your say onlineIf you’re unable to attend one of the listening events, or would prefer to have your say online visit: www.engage.england.nhs.uk
For more information about the plans visit: www.england.nhs.uk/south/2016/04/29/vascular-services-2/
Closing date for comments 19 May 2016

The University of Southampton and the National Institute for Health Research are developing a new way of analysing the comment boxes in patient surveys so that they can be used more effectively to improve health services – using similar technology to that used to analyse reviews in website shopping. They are also developing a webpage that will be able to show the results of their analysis.
They would like to design their webpage together with patients, carers and healthcare professionals, so that it can be used by everyone and so that it will be useful to everyone.
They are therefore holding a series of special large focus groups to do this. If you take part you will be recompensed for time and reasonable expenses. If you are interested in helping them and taking part in this research and would like further details, please send your contact details to D.M.Tkacz@soton.ac.uk.