Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPIFs) have been set up for every NHS Trust and Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the UK to enable patients and the public to influence and work with those who make decisions about health. They have a wide membership which is representative of the local community. Forums will monitor the effectiveness of the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) in their area.

In every community, PPIFs are a key resource for local people, helping and supporting community groups and promoting better public involvement in decisions about health care. They work in communities with local people and with voluntary organisations on involvement issues.

An important role of the PPIFs will be the reporting of trends and conclusions drawn from patients' experience of local services and reporting this to local decision makers.

PPIFs have been set up to:

• Monitor and review the services arranged and / or provided by the Trust from the perspective of the patient
• Seek the views of patients receiving services provided or arranged by the Trust
• Inspect premises where NHS services are delivered
• Make reports and recommendations based on the views and experiences of patients and carers to the Trust managers
• Refer matters of concern to relevant organisations
• Be represented on trust Boards at Non Executive Director level (PPIFs will select one of their number to be put forward for appointment to Trust boards by the Appointments Commission. Their appointment is treated in exactly the same way as every other Non Executive Director)

The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) support and co-ordinate PPIFs and also has the power to appoint forum members.

Find your local Patient and Public Involvement Forums.

More information about Local PPIFs in Devon:

• Devon PPI Forum (including all Torbay and Devon PCTs)
• Devon Partnership NHS Trust PPI Forum
• Plymouth PPI Forum
• Plymouth PCT PPI Forum