Help shape the future of hospital maternity and gynaecology care in Liverpool

Do you have experience of using hospital maternity or gynaecology services in Liverpool? Or are you a partner, family member or carer for someone who has?

NHS Cheshire & Merseyside’s Communications & Engagement Team is looking for people to take part in a ‘Lived Experience Panel’ to help support work to improve these services for the future, as part of the Women’s Hospital Services in Liverpool programme.

Background

In Liverpool, most hospital maternity and gynaecology services are provided from Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which means that they are separated from other hospital services for adults, including those based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Aintree University Hospital.

Because patients receiving maternity or gynaecology care might also require services provided at these other hospitals, this separation can create significant clinical risks. There is sometimes a need to transfer patients between different hospitals in Liverpool, often when they are at their most vulnerable. This situation can also create delays in care, and poorer patient experience.

The local NHS in committed to finding a long-term solution that will improve the quality and safety of hospital maternity and gynaecology services, giving patients the care they need and deserve, wherever they are being treated – and this Patient Lived Experience Panel will directly support this work.

What would joining the panel involve?

We’re looking for people who can commit up to half a day a month to take part in group discussions (either face-to-face or online) and share their experiences, views and opinions.

As a panel member, you’d help us to develop plans for getting people involved in this programme of work and provide some feedback on any public materials that we produce.

Membership of the panel is on a voluntary basis and short-term. Initially, the group will run from Autumn 2024 to early 2025. It could also extend beyond this, depending on what happens with this programme of work.

Who can apply?

In order to be considered for inclusion on the Lived Experience Panel, you should:

  • Have lived experience of hospital gynaecology and/or maternity services in Liverpool (most of this care takes place at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, but you might also have been treated at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Aintree University Hospital, or the Royal Liverpool University Hospital). Your experience might be as a patient, or as a carer or family member of someone who is/was a patient.
  • Be able to volunteer some time to support the programme – up to half a day per month.
  • Be willing to take part in an initial online briefing and training session (lasting approximately two-hours).
  • Be willing to actively participate in Panel activities on an ongoing basis – by reviewing information and sharing your opinions and views on materials.

What are the benefits of taking part?

Being part of the Lived Experience Panel will be a chance to:

  • Help shape the future of hospital maternity and gynaecology services in Liverpool and improve patient care.
  • Help ensure that any public information we produce as part of this work is clear and easy to understand.
  • Gain volunteer experience in service design/co-creation, marketing and communications, public involvement within the NHS.

Expressions of interest 

If you would like to express an interest in being a part of the Lived Experience Panel, please fill out this short Application Form.

If you have any questions or would like to learn a bit more about this opportunity before applying, we are happy to arrange a short informal chat with one of our team over the phone or online (via MS Teams). 

Please get in touch by calling us on: 07775 411 651 or emailing: engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk

You can also get in touch with us if you’d like information in another format, or you want to submit an application to us in another way.

Maternity and gynaecology services are used by a wide range of different people, so we’re keen to hear from people from across the communities we serve – let us know if there’s something we can do to make it easier for you to take part.