A borough NHS provider is recruiting six new patient safety partners.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability, and autism services in Bury, is looking for people to help improve patient safety and represent the voices and experiences of patients, families, and carers.

The trust is keen to receive applications from anyone in the community, including patients, carers, family members, and those with an interest in making care safer for patients.

Patient safety partner Julie Halliwell said: "It's a very rewarding role and an opportunity to use my family's personal experiences to improve patient care, ensuring the voice of patients and carers are represented, considered, and heard.

Julie Halliwell, patient safety partnerJulie Halliwell, patient safety partner (Image: Supplied)

"Every week I attend a quality and safety panel which looks at patient safety incidents, understanding what has happened and how we can improve and learn.

"It's my role to ask questions, ensure the patient, family, and carer views are understood and considered; and provide a different perspective."

The role is flexible and involves up to 16 hours of work per month, for which partners will receive £10 per hour plus travel expenses.

The position is initially for 12 months but can be extended.

Ms Haliwell said: “It’s been a very positive experience for me.

"The support I have received has been excellent and my opinions, ideas and thoughts have always been welcomed and made a positive contribution to changes in patient care.”

Tim McDougall, director of quality, nursing, and healthcare professions at Pennine Care NHS, said: "We are looking for members of our community to work with us, be our critical friend and represent the views of our patients, their loved ones, and our wider community.

"Your openness and honesty as one of our patient safety partners means we can understand more about the needs of our patients and make meaningful changes to improve the care that we offer."

For more information about these roles and how to apply, visit the Pennine Care NHS website or email involvement.penninecare@nhs.net.