Principle Three ~
To have ongoing consultations with current and potential service users to ensure the planning and delivery of equitable and accessible service.
Developing and supporting user groups across all Sandyford services:
Some of the services that came together to form the Sandyford Initiative already had user groups, but the integration has seen the development of new groups, often coming together through the user involvement processes.
The following groups are currently in operation:
- Asian Women’s User Group
- Chinese User Group
- Gay Men’s User Group
- Transgendered Patient Support Group (with a user group component)
These groups are facilitated or supported by Sandyford’s Community Access Worker.
The Sandyford has incorporated user feedback to improve services in a number of ways:
- Creating daily drop-in services so that individuals can be seen the same day without appointments
- Increasing the number of counselling staff to reduce waiting times and to improve continuity
- Creating a unified switchboard to reduce time to get through by telephone
- Making more varied and appealing reading material available to service users
- Introduction of ticketing systems and information to service users who attend drop-in services
- Redesign of reception areas to improve confidentiality and protect personal spaces
