Specialised services support people with a range of rare and complex conditions. They often involve treatments provided to patients with rare cancers, genetic disorders or complex medical or surgical conditions. They deliver cutting-edge care and are a catalyst for innovation, supporting pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.   Click here for a quick overview of specialised services.

Specialised Commissioning (South) are looking to recruit up to two Patient and Public Voice Expert Advisers for the following groups: 

• Senior Management Team (SMT)/Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group (SCOG)
  
• Clinical Delivery Group
  
• Quality Committee
  

 
The purposes of the groups are as follows:
 

• The Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group (SCOG) has been established to discuss matters relating to the commissioning of specialised services. Its overall aim is to give local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) greater involvement in the commissioning of specialised services to better align with the needs of local populations.

 

• The Clinical Delivery Group has delegated responsibility from SCOG to develop and implement the delivery of service reviews and reconfigurations,  drive forward quality improvements and efficiency savings by identifying and delivering effective Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Schemes (QIPP) as well as transforming services to improve patient care and outcomes.

 

• The objectives of the Quality Committee is to advise SCOG on all aspects of quality and to work with the contracting teams to ensure robust quality governance structures, systems and processes are in place to effectively manage clinical risk and ensure patient safety.

 
Further details can be found on the NHS England website. Please complete the online survey to apply. The closing date for applications is 19 February 2018.
 
Interviews will be held on 26 February 2018 in Reading.

The IAPT team at NHS England will be hosting an Engagement Workshop on the 21st March 2018, 11:00-16:00 for the Adult IAPT Programme. This event will be for IAPT service user representatives, IAPT service user organisations and IAPT service user leads or champions working in IAPT. The event will be an opportunity for attendees to share thoughts on progress of the programme so far and ideas for the development of the IAPT programme in the future.
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To book a place please follow this link:
​ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/iapt-national-policy-engagement-event-tickets-42321923011  
If you have any questions about the event please contact England.MentalHealth@nhs.net
​Wed 21 March 2018, 11:00 – 16:00 GMT. 
Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre, Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3LE View Map

Things are changing at GP practices, with online services, longer opening hours and other new investments rolling out nationally.
From January until the end of March 2018, more than two million randomly selected people registered with GP practices will be invited to answer a postal questionnaire about their experiences so if you are selected please do take part. For the first time, 16 and 17 year olds will be included and the survey will cover new questions about recent service changes and topics including mental health. The survey is carried out securely and information published does not identify individuals. The findings will help to see what’s working and what needs to improve. So if you are selected to take part, please take the time to have your say.

Making the Most of GP Patient Participation Groups
Date: Monday 5th February
Time: 10:00 - 15:30
Venue: The Dorford Centre, 2 Bridport Road, Dorchester, 
DT1 1RR View Map  
Register for a place here.  There are limited places available so please book early.

NHS Dorset CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) has invited us to run this development day as part of their support for GP Practice Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in the county. It is aimed at members of Patient Participation Groups and Practice Managers, as well as anyone who would like to learn more about how the groups work, their importance, and how they fit into the bigger NHS picture.

​The event will be facilitated by Jessie Cunnett, Director of PPI Solutions. 

The aims of the day are to:

• Share information and knowledge about PPGs and how they fit in to the bigger picture
• Bring people together from PPGs across Dorset to share and exchange ideas and experiences on how to make PPGs successful
• Enable people from PPGs to network with each other and to develop ongoing working relationships
• Look at what is working well and what could be improved and to provide an opportunity for practical help and advice to be available.

As part of the day, participants will be able to attend two of the following workshops:

• How to get wider participation in your PPG
• How to make meetings effective
• How to set up locality networks
• How to use social media

If you have a suggestion about a workshop on another topic please let us know when you register and we will try and accommodate your idea.
Register for your place here.  There are limited places available so please book early.
If you have any questions please contact Sue Newell on sue.newell@helpandcare.org.uk and 07595 424198.

A public consultation on changes to radiotherapy services in England is now open, running until 24 January 2018.
This is your chance to comment on the ‘big picture’ of radiotherapy service change, the details of which will then be worked out locally and regionally.  The main points of the consultation are:
 

• Hospitals with radiotherapy services will operate in networks to share their expertise
• Proposed improved access to research and clinical trials
• Proposed improved access to information and support for patients
• Super-specialist (called ‘sub-specialist’) treatment & care for those with rarer cancers
• Radiotherapy closer to home for the majority
• Networking and reorganisation of radiotherapy workforce so that expertise can be shared

A link to respond to the consultation is here: Consultation on radiotherapy services

You may contact the organisers of the consultation with any queries, or to request a speaker for public events. The email address for this is: england.npoc-cancer@nhs.net.

NHS England - South (Wessex) are reviewing the telephone dental advice service, which is provided via NHS 111, for Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  They would like your feedback as someone who has already used the service to help improve it for the future. 

This survey is being carried out by Wessex Voices, who work closely with NHS England - South (Wessex) to support them to involve people in designing health services.  Your feedback will be completely anonymous.  Here is the link to a short survey.  It should take about 5 mins to complete.
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/dentaladvice

NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning team is recruiting four patient and public voice partners to join the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group (PPVAG). The role of the PPVAG is to provide assurance around communication and engagement with patients and the public on key areas of work carried out by the Specialised Commissioning Directorate. It is looking for applicants who can bring expertise in communications and engagement good practice, including techniques and / or assurance processes.

They are also recruiting for their Rare Diseases Advisory Group. 

Successful applicants will be reimbursed for their meeting/preparation time and expenses. For more information and to request an application pack please email england.voice-crg@nhs.net  The closing date for applications is 5 March 2017.

Also if you could like to volunteer to review their new policy about NHS England works with its patient and public voice (PPV) partners. The draft policy outlines different types of involvement roles and the support on offer to PPV partners. Volunteers will need to be available to join a webinar (online meeting) from 2-3pm on Friday 3 March 2017. If you would like to become a reviewer please email england.nhs.participation@nhs.net for more details.

The INQUIRE project:  Interviewing patients and the public  who have used the internet to express their views about healthcare , or have read other people’s comments.  

•  Have you ever read other people’sonline comments or posts about their views or experiences of healthcare ?
  
• Or perhaps you haveposted or written about your own health or healthcare experiences online?
• Are you 18 or over?

We would like to find out more about how and why patients and members of the public have used the internet to express their views about healthcare, or read other people’s comments. We are interested in people’s use of a range of internet platforms e.g. Twitter, YouTube, blogs, health forums, patient feedback websites and NHS complaints forums
 
If you have used the internet for this purpose, we would like to invite you to take part in an interview with one of our researchers.  An interview will typically last between 45 minutes and one hour. A  researcher could   interview you at your home, or elsewhere if you prefer.  Interviews may also take place by telephone or online if preferred.
 
If you are interested and would like to find out more about what is involved please contact:
Susan Kirkpatrick
Email: susan.kirkpatrick@phc.ox.ac.uk
Phone 07787 294170

You can find NHS England's open consultations on www.engage.england.nhs.uk
Current consultations include ones around the following services:
- Homecare in Hospital Callout
- Proposed redesign of learning disability and autism spectrum disorder services
- Children and Mental Health Services
- Accessible information standard

Over the last year, NHS England has been working to strengthen it’s commitment to patient and public participation. This has involved publishing new guidance on involving patients and the public in it’s work and in primary care commissioning (GP, dental, optical and pharmacy services). Feedback to them on the guidance by clicking on the links above to complete the online surveys, by 31 December 2016.

We would like to invite you to our Wessex Voices Event – ‘Positively Engaging in NHS Change’ on 5th December at the Novotel, Southampton.
Health services in the UK are going through a significant period of change as they gear up to meeting the needs of our 21st Century population.  The Wessex Voices Project would like to invite you to an event to:
–   hear more about what is driving these changes in the NHS
–   what health services could look like in 5-10 years time, and …
–   discuss the best way for the NHS to involve the public in these significant changes.
This event is not designed to talk about the future of specific local health services (e.g. your hospital or GPs) but will focus on how you think people should be involved in these changes.
This is also an opportunity for you to meet each other, Local Healthwatch and some NHS colleagues; for us to say thank you for getting involved in, and to hear a bit more about Wessex Voices.
The event will start at 1000 but you can arrive from 0930.  Please let us know if you have any specific requirements.  Reasonable travel expenses (for volunteers) will be met.  Please sign up to the event via this link.
The event is for people who use health services in Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.
If you have any questions please contact Sue Newell on sue.newell@helpandcare.org.uk or 07595 424198.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Mental Health Alliance
Independent Chairperson
1 day per month - Day rate £350 per day

Expressions of Interest are invited for the position of Independent Chairperson to facilitate and have oversight of the work and delivery of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Mental Health Alliance which is a key work stream of the regional Sustainability Transformation Programme. The Mental Health Alliance has a wide membership including providers and commissioners of mental health services, Local Authorities, Third Sector organisations and patients and carers.
Working in partnership, the Alliance has developed a strategy that aims to develop joined up Mental Health services across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight footprint through a common workforce, to improve access and patient experience of the people of Hampshire and Isle of Wight with mental health needs.

The role
An independent chairperson to provide leadership and objective oversight to the delivery of the work stream objectives. The chairperson will ensure that the work stream:

• maintains its pace and focus on the delivery of work stream objectives
• works in partnership for the most effective service design for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• is aligned to the standards and aspirations set out in Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

Seeking an individual who has established knowledge and experience of Mental Health services. This may be through their own lived experience or through their professional role (or both), who can operate effectively in a strategic leadership position. The post holder must have skills and experience in managing complex and competing priorities at organisational level, be a good negotiator and able to facilitate difficult and challenging conversations. The post holder must be an advocate for Mental Health service users and able to influence as independent Chair. They may be called upon to represent the work stream to a variety of stakeholder groups including (but not limited to)

• Patient Groups
• Workforce representatives and Trade Unions
• Department of Health
• Local and National Government

This position is expected to commence as soon as possible for an initial period of 12 months.

Please contact Hilary Kelly, Programme Director, on hilary.kelly1@nhs.net should you wish to discuss the role or the submission of an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest should be forwarded to Liz Skeats, liz.skeats@southernhealth.nhs.uk by midday 11th November 2016 and include a current CV and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and your skills, attributes and experience as relevant to the role.

Interviews may be held with the applicants to further discuss their expression of interest. An interview date has been identified for the 1st December 2016 from 12:30 onwards.