What are Public Partnership Forums?
Public Partnership Forums (PPFs) have an essential role to play in how NHS Lanarkshire involves patients, carers, the public and community and voluntary groups. They were set up as part of the introduction of Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) in April 2006.
The forums are made up of patients, carers, local community groups and voluntary organisations. But participants do not need to be a member of an existing group and can take part as much or as little as they like.
PPFs are the main structure by which the CHPs link with the people of the communities that they serve, so that there is a meaningful and continuing dialogue with local people.
The statutory roles of the Public Partnership Forums are to:
- Inform local people about the range and location of services and information for which the CHP is responsible
- Involve local users of service, carers and the public in discussion about how to improve local health services
- Support wider public involvement in planning and decision-making about services that are delivered locally.
In Lanarkshire there are two main forums. For more information see:
Pictured (from left):
- John Mitchell, Chair, South Lanarkshire PPF
- Irene Miller, Vice Chair, South Lanarkshire PPF
- Paul Wilson, Executive Director AHP, Nursing and Midwifery, NHS Lanarkshire
- Shona Welton, Head of Patient Affairs, NHS Lanarkshire
- Felix Mulholland, Chair, Motherwell Community Forum
- Bob Smith, Vice Chair, Airdrie and Villages Forum.
Stephen Kerr, Head of Planning and Performance, North Lanarkshire Community Health Partnership, said:
“With the establishment of the PPFs and the strong links they provide with communities, we are now in a position where we have structures and communication links in place which can really give communities influence over how health services are developed and delivered in their own areas."
Roy Watts, Head of Planning and Performance, North Lanarkshire Community Health Partnership, said:
“The PPFs will also allow us to work together to influence the wider developments of health through the Community Planning Partnerships, which involve the health service, local authorities and other agencies.”