East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is calling on community members to volunteer as hospital assessors to help shape the future of our local health and care services.

As part of the Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) initiative, assessors evaluate key aspects of the hospital experience, such as cleanliness, food quality, hydration, privacy, dignity, and overall well-being.

This crucial feedback helps ELHT identify areas for improvement and better meet the needs of patients.

Tony McDonald, executive director of integrated care, partnerships, and resilience at ELHT, highlighted the significance of the initiative.

He said: "PLACE assessments empower patients and local residents to review our facilities against national standards.

"The insights we gain are invaluable in further improving the quality of our care and the things that really matter to patients, families, and carers.

“Volunteering as an assessor is a great way of making a difference to the way our services are run at ELHT."

Patient assessors form at least 50 per cent of each assessment team, working alongside Trust staff.

Whether you have experience as a patient, family member, visitor, carer, or patient advocate at ELHT, you are invited to join the team.

Training sessions will be conducted online in August to prepare volunteers for this year's assessments.

Anyone interested should contact ELHT PLACE Lead Lisa Grendall at lisa.grendall@elht.nhs.uk for more information and to sign up.