West Midlands Ambulance Service Invites Patient Feedback for Service Improvement

The West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) is inviting patients to share their perspectives on potential service improvements. The organization intends to establish a Patient Voice Group, which will serve as a consultative body for enhancing the service. Participants in this group will attend four meetings annually, comprising three virtual sessions and one in-person gathering. Caron Eyre, the Director of Nursing, stated: “No idea is a silly one and you might be surprised that you are not alone in wondering if a small change would lead to a big improvement in how we care for you.” WMAS has released the eligibility requirements for prospective volunteers, indicating that applicants must possess direct experience with the service. This includes instances such as calling 999 for an ambulance, interacting with the control room, or utilizing the patient transport services offered by WMAS. Ms. Eyre noted that WMAS has previously implemented suggestions from service users, providing two specific illustrations. She elaborated: “We now have blue lighting in the ambulances which young children find soothing and we have introduced a new way of helping non-emergency patients who need a sling to leave their homes.” The Trust further commented: “If there is one thing that we know, it’s that we need to listen to you, our patients, so that we can further improve the service we provide.” Individuals interested in joining the newly formed group can contact WMAS via email for additional details. The trust emphasized that current communication avenues will continue to be available for all residents in the region to express their opinions. Ms. Eyre clarified: “This is not a replacement for our complaints and compliments service or the surveys we carry out from time to time; it’s a chance for people to come together, bounce ideas off each other and work with us to make real changes to our service.”