Service Users
In order to allow Patients within Cheswold Park Hospital to have input and real influence over the development of the service there is a Patients Council. This consists of service user representatives from each of the Wards and two members of staff, one from nursing and one from Social Work. Other members of staff are on occasions invited to attend the Council in order to address specific issues and staff members also request to come to the Council in order to present developments, gain feedback on current or proposed service practice etc.
The Council meets regularly every four weeks and on other occasions for extra-ordinary meetings as required. It is usually reasonably well attended and is starting to have some constructive and lively debate. The council has just agreed to become part of the Yorkshire and Humberside Region Service User project and is looking to become involved with other Service User groups across the Region as well as gaining guidance and support in developing Service User involvement at Cheswold Park.
Patient representatives from the wards attend community meetings on their own wards in order to be able to raise any issues that cannot be resolved at Ward Level and feedback to their wards what the Patients Council is doing.
Recent issues that are or have been considered by the Council include; how patients can make purchases for themselves from external suppliers, food and catering, the impact of recent changes in the service specification of the wards and resolving issues around that, smoking arrangements, patients being able to access take away food outlets, comic relief activities and the provision of safe storage areas in patients bedrooms.