patients council

patients council

An autonomous voluntary body established under the direction of an NHS trust board which is comprised of members drawn from the communities in the trust’s catchment area. Patients councils (PCs) ensure that patients have a full say in how the trust and related services will be streamlined, developed and improved to benefit all stakeholders using the trust (e.g., patients, relatives, visitors, etc.). The PC is copied on any of the trust’s proposed changes in services which could affect patients; is consulted about contentious issues, even those of a confidential nature; and is provided with up-to-date information about the trust's clinical and financial results, as well as many other matters. PCs represent the interests of patients, influence trusts’ decisions from a patient's perspective, work to improve the whole patient experience and, ultimately, patient satisfaction.

Patients Council

A body within the UK College of Medicine (CoM) which is comprised of lay members who ensure that patients have an equal voice within the CoM on an equal footing to professionals (e.g., doctors, other health professionals and scientists), thus providing a unique perspective to the CoM’s agenda. The CoM is the only professional institution of its kind to involve and engage with patients as equals.