Getting Involved / Patient Engagement

We want our patients, families, and carers to be involved in any changes and improvements that are needed to improve experience within the hospital. By becoming a member of our patient engagement group, you will be invited to take part in activities and events that help us understand where improvement and change is required.

This could involve activities such as checking leaflets to ensure they are ‘patient friendly’, taking part in focus groups, or becoming involved in specific projects such as proposed new builds. To become a member of the group please email: [email protected].

Healthwatch Milton Keynes are independent champions for people who use health and social care services. The purpose of Healthwatch is to make sure that those running health and social care services put people at the heart of their care and understand the needs, experiences, and concerns of people and to speak out on their behalf. They also offer advice and signposting about health and social care services available locally.

Healthwatch listen to what patients, families, and carers like about services and what they think could be improved. No matter how big or small the issue is, they want to hear about it. They have a statutory role to represent the views of patients, families and carers which gives them the power to ensure those views are heard.

Healthwatch will write reports based on the feedback they receive which will include recommendations on how services can be improved. These reports are shared with Healthwatch England, the Care Quality Commission, and the people who pay for and provide local services.

Where possible, they will let people know when changes are planned to services in our community and help them to have a say. They will represent people’s views at meetings and on boards where decisions about NHS and social care are made.

Contact details:

Telephone – 01908 698800

Email – [email protected]

To visit the Healthwatch website, please click here.

The Milton Keynes Cancer Forum (formerly MK Cancer Patient Partnership (MKCPP)) was founded in 2002 as a charitable organisation that combines ‘the patient’s’ voice’ in a partnership with health professionals and other cancer related groups and charities, functioning in the first instance as an information exchanging hub. In addition, the Partnership initiates special projects in the hospital and community including environment audits of in hospital cancer clinics and procedures, GP surgery workshops for cancer patients and their families at local level, and more.

Their methodology as a multi-faceted networking group is increasingly attracting attention and emulation from Cancer Services in other NHS Trusts who appreciate their effectiveness, as they continue to pioneer the way forward for realistic maintenance of and improvements to cancer services based on the realities of today whilst progressing, with their NHS partners, other charities, support groups and other associates, towards even better cancer care in the future.

For further information, please contact MKCF Chair John Sorrell by email at [email protected] or you can call John on 07889 181158.

The Trust recognises the importance of those who volunteer and the difference they can make to the experience of our patients and visitors. Volunteers are needed in clinical and non-clinical areas of the hospital. Volunteer roles include: – meet and greet duties, assisting  patients at mealtimes, wayfinding, and supporting staff on all wards including maternity and children’s wards, to include specific roles such as breastfeeding peer support, and reception roles.

Volunteering allows people to give something back to their local community. All for as little as three hours a week. It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends and learn new skills. Please visit our volunteering pages on our website  to find out more.

Signing up to membership of Milton Keynes University Hospital is free, and benefits include NHS discount; email newsletters; opportunities to attend membership events and participate in service improvement initiatives and surveys; and voting for your local hospital Governor and even standing as a Governor in elections. It takes 60 seconds to sign up, which you can do by clicking here