Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group Citizens’ Panel – FAQs Sheet

We hope you’ll be interested in joining the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group’s Citizens’ Panel to discuss the future of health and care services in the county. Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group plan and buy health services for Somerset and work in close partnership with Somerset County Council.

 

What is the Citizens’ Panel?

The Citizens’ Panel will be made up of around 1,500 residents of Somerset, who want to be involved in building a health and care strategy that’s fit for the future by responding to questions about health services in Somerset.

 

What will the Citizens’ Panel do?

This is an opportunity for you to share your views about proposals for health services across our county, and make sure they’re fit for the future too. We want to set up a representative panel of Somerset residents, which is why we’re inviting you to tell us what you think about our proposals and have conversations about health and care services.

 

How will my views make a difference?

As a resident of Somerset, your opinions are extremely important and help us to better understand the needs and experiences of local people. We will use what you say to help improve the health and care services we provide for all residents across the county.

This is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts about how services could work better across our county and make sure your views help shape plans and proposals.

 

Why do health and care services need to change?

Population needs have changed, demand for health and care services has grown hugely so we need to change the way we provide our health and care services too.

• We want to reshape services, supporting more people to stay out of hospital altogether or go home earlier after a hospital stay.
• We want to provide more care as close to people’s homes as practical, supporting them to live and stay well, and remain as independent as possible.
• At the same time, we’ll be sure to continue treating people at our acute hospitals who require hospital or more specialist-based care.
• We have to change to balance the books financially and close the gap in health spending across the system.
• People tell us it’s a complex and confusing system; we want to create a health and care service that’s easy to find your way around, and helps you to get better access to the advice, support and care best able to meet your needs.
• At the core, we want to encourage and help people live healthy and independent lives, within thriving communities.

 

Who is leading this change?

Much of this work is being carried out as part of the Fit for My Future programme. Fit for my Future is a strategy for how we will support the health and wellbeing of all the people of Somerset by changing the way we commission and deliver health and care services. It is being delivered through a partnership between Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and Somerset County Council supported by our NHS providers.

 

Where can I find out more about ‘Fit for my Future’?

If you would like to find out more about what is going on across the county visit: https://www.fitformyfuture.org.uk/

 

Who can I contact if I have a question about the panel?

Please contact: The Engagement Team, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group somccg.engagement@nhs.net or 01935 384022.

 

How can I help?

The panel is due to run between March 2020 and March 2022. During that time you will get the opportunity to respond to surveys gathering your views on certain issues. You may also be invited to attend focus groups or events. We hope you will continue to remain on the panel after that time and continue to give your support and share your thoughts about how we can continue to shape our services going forward.

Joining the panel is easy and open to any resident of Somerset who is 18 or over. Simply tell us a bit about who you are by completing the recruitment survey online by entering the following link into your internet browser: https://surveys.qaresearch.co.uk/somersetpanel.asp

We hope to include everyone on the panel but sometimes that’s not possible as we need to ensure the panel is representative of the make-up of Somerset. Either way we will confirm your place in early 2020.

Joining the panel and taking part in surveys is voluntary, if you agree to take part and later change your mind you can withdraw your consent by contacting The Engagement Team, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group somccg.engagement@nhs.net or 01935 384022.

 

Will I receive payment for being on the panel?

You will not receive money for completing surveys. You may however be offered the opportunity to take part in face-to-face discussion groups for which there could be payment as a thank you for your time.

 

How frequently will I be asked to give my views?

We hope the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group Citizens’ Panel will run for at least two years and during this time we anticipate that you will be invited to complete no more than one survey a month.

 

Why is the panel being recruited by Qa Research in partnership with Participate Ltd?

We have chosen to work with an independent research agency called Qa Research Ltd in partnership with Participate Ltd to use their expertise to recruit the panel. To find out more about these agencies visit www.participate.uk.com and www.qaresearch.co.uk.

 

What personal data will you collect from me?

We will take your name and contact details so we can invite you to take part in surveys.

To ensure the panel includes a representative mix of residents, we need to collect some details about you, including your postcode, gender, age and also some more sensitive information such as your ethnicity, sexual orientation, whether you have a health condition and use of health services.

 

How will you use my personal data?

The data collected from you by Qa Research when you are recruited to join the panel will be transferred securely to the engagement team at Somerset CCG. They will then manage the panel. This means they will email you invitations to take part in surveys, discussion groups or other types of research. Participate Ltd will analyse survey responses. Your recruitment data will be kept confidential by the Somerset CCG engagement team and responses to surveys will be kept confidential, they will not be shared with any third party and will only be used for research purposes. You will not be named (nor identifiable from your responses) in any research reports.

For more information on how your data will be used and your rights, please follow this link to Somerset CCG’s privacy policy https://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/about-us/how-we-do-things/information-governance/privacy-notice/.
For Qa Research privacy policy please see https://qaresearch.co.uk/privacy/.