Patient Network Quality
Terms of Reference
1.
Introduction
1.1 The Patient Network Quality (PNQ) has been set up within East and North Herts Clinical
Commissioning Group (CCG) to support its Quality Committee in ensuring that:

Commissioned services are delivered with high quality and best possible outcomes for
patients, carers and their families.

Local health services are effective and safe and for patients to be treated with compassion,
dignity and respect.
The PNQ provides a supportive role to the Quality Committee in achieving these aims.
2.
Purpose of the PNQ
To represent the views and experiences of patients and carers in east and north Hertfordshire and
act as a conduit between Patient Participation Groups (PPGs); Patient Commissioning Groups
(PCGs); GP locality committees and the Quality Committee of the CCG in relation to matters of
service quality and patient safety. Specifically it uses these links to:
2.1 Receive briefings from Quality Committee meetings and brief back to that Committee on matters
of concern or interest for patients and carers.
2.2 Gather and communicate patient feedback and views to the Quality Committee on the quality of
services being delivered to patients living in east and north Herts
2.3 Be consulted on issues relating to quality and patient safety in relation to commissioned services
within East and North Herts and ensure those issues are communicated to PCGs and PPGs.
2.4 Provide a forum for review and discussion of national and local information/issues as
determined by the Quality Committee, in regards to service quality and patient safety for
assessment and action by the Quality Committee
2.5 Be a conduit for local expertise about community needs and concerns in relation to quality,
particularly those from disadvantaged groups
3.
Roles & Responsibilities
3.1 Receive and report feedback and findings from patients across east and north Herts to inform
and influence the work of the CCG’s Quality Committee.
3.2 Receive and consider reports and action plans resulting from quality assurance visits/audits etc.
3.3 Gather patient and carer stories about their experiences of care as part of the development of
patient stories and arrange for these to be presented as appropriate to the Patient Network,
Quality; the Quality Committee and Governing Body
3.4 Receive and consider information available from local and national services on the quality of
care provided for residents of east and north Hertfordshire.
3.5 Support and develop any other relevant quality initiatives, such as listening events.
4.
Accountability of the Patient Network Quality
4.1 The Chair of the PNQ will report on the network’s views and activities to the Quality Committee.
4.2 The PNQ is accountable to the PCGs; network members will be responsible for reporting back
activities and information from the network to their respective locality patient commissioning
groups.
5.
Membership
5.1 Two patient members will be nominated and endorsed by their locality PCG to represent it on
the PNQ. Members will serve for two years; after which time their membership will be reviewed
by their PCG.
5.2 CCG members will include:
-
Director of Nursing and Quality or their representative
-
Chair of the Quality Committee
5.3 The Chair of the PNQ will be elected by the members to serve for two years; an election will
take place to appoint a chair for the next period. In the event of the chair being unable to attend
a meeting, another member of the group will deputise
5.4 Representatives of other relevant local bodies will be invited to attend meetings of the PNQ as
appropriate and agreed by the Chair and the Lead for Public Engagement.
5.5 The PNQ will be supported by the CCG’s public engagement team and other CCG staff where
appropriate
6.
Methods of Working
6.1 The PNQ will meet six times a year formally, aligned with meetings of the CCG’s Quality
Committee and CCG work cycle.
6.2 Patient members can arrange to meet informally between these meetings; the chair will liaise
with the CCG around the content of these meetings
6.3 Agenda items will be generated by the members of the group via the Chair, the Lead for Public
Engagement and the Quality Committee, focusing on the CCG and locality quality priorities.
6.4 An agenda (and where possible associated papers) will be made available to members a week
prior to the meeting.
6.5 Notes and actions arising from the formal meeting will be agreed and circulated to the group
within two weeks of the meeting.
6.6 Patient members may be invited to undertake other tasks relating to quality issues, including
serving on CCG working groups and sub-committees as appropriate and subject to discussion
with the Chair and the Lead for Public Engagement.
7.
Relationships, Governance & Confidentiality
7.1 The PNQ has a two way relationship with the Quality Committee which reports to the Governing
Body.
7.2 Notes of PNQ meetings will be shared with PCGs and with PPGs when appropriate
7.3 Any matters of a confidential nature discussed at PNQ meeting will be identified and advice
given by the Chair and Lead for Public Engagement on what can be shared
7.4 The PNQ will review its effectiveness on an annual basis using a bespoke self assessment tool
DATE:
1 June 2014
REVIEW DATE:
1 June 2016