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West Anglia Cancer Network
Patient Involvement in Service Improvement to the Diagnostic Prostate Service
Why are we doing this?
· Recent policy developments to involve patients, carers and the public in decision making.
· Acceptance that patient input can effect outcomes and enable staff to do a better job.
· To improve the integrated care pathway for patient journey
What do we want to achieve?
Gain insight into patient views on the delays in the system and the quality of the environment in which they were processed. The degree of confidence in the system and members of the Team.
To identify patients who might be suitable to join patient focus groups for prostate cancer.
Identify issues at each step between time of initial referral by GP and the point of giving patients the results of any investigations performed, whether they are positive or negative.
How are we going to do it?
Initially we plan to give out a series of short questionnaires. These questionnaires will have 5—6 questions only.
Questions have been drawn from previous NHS related questionnaires and have been adapted to the diagnostic prostate service.
Patients will be selected from those who attend the Diagnostic Prostate Service, irrespective of the outcome of the diagnostic procedures.
Patient questionnaires will be given out anonymously and be accompanied by a Freepost addressed envelope. On the bottom of each questionnaire will be space allowing patients to identify themselves if they feel they would like to take part in future focus groups.
Once we have received our initial batch, we then hope to run with this prospectively for a period of time. We have approximately 4 different questionnaires, each with 5– 6 questions on. The questions are arranged in a mixed manner so each questionnaire samples a different part of the patient journey and/or experience. By amalgamating these together we hope to get an overall view of patient’s perception from the initial stages of the journey.
We are writing to each GP Practice in our catchment area at this stage so they are aware that we will be sending out these questionnaires. Some of the questions will impinge on both the GP and Hospital aspects of care delivery.
Possible outcomes
We hope to identify patients who will be suitable for the development of patient focus groups for more specific service developments in the future.
We may be able to alter for instance, the environment in which news is given or investigations are undertaken. We also hope to achieve some feedback on the quality of our written information and the timing of its delivery to patients.
Project Team
John McLoughlin – Consultant Urologist
Jane Thacker – Uro-Oncology Nurse Specialist
Lawrence Drudge Coates – Cancer Collaborative Programme Manager
Lynn Virciglio – Project Administrator
Pam Evans – Cancer Services Development Manager
For more details please contact any member of the above team on 01284 713000 and ask for them in person.
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