Consumer and Community Participation
Consumer and Community Participation
The Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce (GMCT) is committed to ensuring that its processes are transparent and accountable to the NSW community it serves. Consumers bring a unique and valuable perspective by helping those working inside the health system to recognise what patients see as the important aspects of care.
Currently the Taskforce has almost 30 consumers who are involved as active partners with clinicians - doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and managers, across a range of GMCT Clinical Networks, to ensure that high quality care is delivered, access is improved and specialty services are well coordinated.
Consumer and community participants often play key roles in their networks - chairing committees, contributing with first hand experience to the publication of patient and/or carer guides (eg. on kidney donation, bone marrow transplants and gynaecological oncology) or to planned media activities. In particular, their involvement helps to ensure that clinical discussions remain patient focused.
GMCT consumers not only have a voice in individual Clinical Networks, they also meet together regularly to share ideas. GMCT holds an annual Consumer Forum which brings together consumers across its range of networks, in addition to regular Consumer Focus Groups on issues of interest as they arise. At these meetings, GMCT consumers have the opportunity to meet other participants, to share ideas on the best ways to contribute and to raise any relevant matters of concern or interest for discussion.
The GMCT booklet, Guidelines on Consumer and Community Participation provides further information about the role of consumer and community participants, gives guidance on communications and resources provided and provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
