Claire Rayner heads new Patients’ Forum at Barts and The London

20 January 2003

Claire Rayner, Chair of the Patients’ Forum, said, “The Patients’ Forum is an important way of ensuring that the voices of people who use the Trust’s hospitals are heard, and will enable patients and carers to have an influence on the future development of services.”

Trust Chairman, Martin Vandersteen, said, “The next few years will be a period of unprecedented change for Barts and The London, with work starting on a major redevelopment programme which will eventually see a new hospital in Whitechapel and a cancer and cardiac centre of excellence established at Barts.

“We are determined to ensure patients’ views are considered when we make decisions affecting the Trust. The Patients’ Forum has had a very encouraging start and I look forward to watching it grow from strength to strength.”

Barts and The London’s Patients’ Forum will build upon the Trust’s already established links with patients and the local community, strengthened through popular annual events such as Multicultural Week, the Careers and Jobs Fair, Open Day at the Royal London and View Day at Barts, and services such as the Patient Advice and Liaison Service and the multi-faith chaplaincy.

Forum members will serve for a period of 12 - 18 months, and should be able to commit themselves to at least half a day a month, sometimes during evenings or weekends. People who have been patients, or carers of a patient, in the last three years at The Royal London, St Bartholomew’s or The London Chest hospitals are welcome to apply to join the Patients’ Forum.

Patients’ Forums will be introduced across the country over the next few years as part of the Government’s plans to modernise the NHS.

Those who are interested in finding out more are invited to a special open evening on Thursday, 23 January, between 6pm and 8pm in the Staff Restaurant, Stepney Way, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. For further information or an application pack, please call Siraj Islam, Community Communications Officer on 020 7601 8231, or e-mail siraj.islam@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk.

Contact: Romina Bartholomeusz, 020 7601 7063 and Marie Mangan, 020 7601 8558

- ENDS -

Notes for editors

Photo caption:
Claire Rayner (seated left) heads new Patients’ Forum at Barts and The London - pictured here with forum members (from left to right) Kulsum Winship, Kathleen Banks, Sybil Yates, Paulette Ing (seated), Siraj Islam (the Trust's Community Communications Officer) and Jill Iremonger (seated).

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