MIL OSI – Source: Waikato District Health Board – Press Release/Statement
Headline: Wanted – a consumer perspective on Waikato maternity services
Waikato District Health Board is looking for two enthusiastic people who have had a baby in the last five years in the Waikato, to become maternity consumer representatives.
It is part of a programme to get stronger consumer perspectives on how maternity services can be improved.
The role involves attending and contributing to the Maternity Quality and Safety Governance Board meeting one morning every three months, plus some additional time to give a consumer perspective on quality improvement changes in maternity services.
The governance board is the group that oversees the Waikato DHB’s activities in the national Maternity Quality and Safety programme, which all district health boards are undertaking. It includes improving clinical leadership, having systems in place for sharing information, monitoring maternity data, ensuring there is networking among clinicians, and engaging with consumers.
The governance board includes people from primary care services, midwifery, primary birthing services and the hospital – and now will also have two consumer representatives.
It is not a forum for political lobbying, or a place where individual complaints are discussed and resolved.
Having maternity consumer representatives will contribute to the improvement of the quality of maternity services for all women who use these services and their family/whānau.
They will bring a consumer perspective to the governance board and the programme by:
representing the interests of maternity services users
contributing to planned changes and quality improvements to maternity services
help develop better communication and engagement with the users of maternity services in the Waikato.
A payment will be made to the consumer representatives in line with the consumer payment agreement. This will cover attendance at the meeting and travel.
To find out more read the position description and complete the expression of interest (EOI) form to apply.
Please email Expressions of Interest to ruth.galvin@waikatodhb.health.nz before 8am Monday 8 June 2015
For further information contact Ruth Galvin on 021 2464494 Or email ruth.galvin@waikatodhb.health.nz
Examples of work being done in Waikato maternity services
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