When NHS Direct was preparing its application to become a FoundationTrust, I decided to join as a public member. Before this, I was amember of the Milton Keynes Community Health Council, and have beeninvolved at some level with most of the reviews and modernisationagendas that have taken place, including the development of NHS Trustsin the 1990s and the establishment of NHS Foundation Trusts.
WhenNHS Direct’s plans changed, and the Patient and Public InvolvementWorking Group was set up, I was very pleased that my application tobecome a member was accepted. I have always firmly believed in thevalue of patients being involved in the development (and monitoring thequality) of NHS services. Whilst I know and agree that the Board mustbe the final decision-making authority at NHS Direct, it is reassuringto know that they want to find out the views of the public.
Asa new member I have not yet attended a Working Group but I am lookingforward to attending. I have attended a focus group, an inductionsession and have had the opportunity to see how one of the NHS Directcontact centres works.
