Role Title:Lay Member –Individual Patient Funding Request Panel
Responsible to:Cwm TafUniversityHealth Board
Time commitment: Attendance at regular meetings and preparation time prior to the meetings
Tenure: 3 years (then subject to re-appointment)
Remuneration: The Health Boardpays travelling expenses to volunteers at the rate approved by the HRMC.
Main Location:Ynysmeurig House, Navigation Park, Abercynon
SummaryEvery year, theCwm Taf University Health Board receives money from the Welsh Government to pay for healthcare for everyone who lives in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf and is entitled to NHS care.
Our job is to get the best value for this money by spending it wisely.
Demand for healthcare is growing. New and often expensive treatments are becoming available almost every week. However, we only have a set amount of money to spend and so very difficult decisions sometimes have to be made.
Our priority is to pay for those treatments that are clinically effective, can demonstrate that they improve people’s health, do no harm and offer good value for money.
As a result, there are some treatments that we do not routinely provide and these fall into 2 main categories. These are:
- treatments that are new, novel, developing or unproven and are not normally available for any patients in Cwm Taf (for example, a medicine that has not been approved for use by the NHS in Wales)
- treatments where a patient does not fulfil the clinical criteria for treatment (for example, a request for weight loss surgery).
These treatments would need to be considered on the grounds of clinical exceptionality by the Individual Patient Funding Request (IPFR) Panel. The Panels are held regularly and comprise of clinicians at a senior level.
The IPFR Panelmake difficult decisions based on complex information and follow a clear policy on how to deal with these requests. You can downloadit from;
The role of the Lay Representative as a member of the IPFR panel is to provide independent guidance and constructive challenge to support decisions related to individual patient funding requests.
The Lay Representative will be expected to attend meetings in person and be expected to sign a declaration of confidentiality and declare any interests.
Anonymous copies of patient funding requests will be provided prior to the meeting. These papers must be handed in for destruction following the meeting.
RoleTo provide a key role in helping to ensure the needs and experiences of patients and the public of Wales are fully considered when individual patient funding request (IPFR) decisions are made.
As a member of theIPFR Panel,the Lay Member has a shared responsibility for ensuring that the decisions made by the Panel are fair, equitable and transparent.
This is essential in ensuring that the Panel acts in the best interests of the population of Wales at all times by helping to ensure that the decisions made are based on robust clinical information which supports safe and effective treatment; provides best use of public money and,most importantly, takes into consideration the views of the public.
Main responsibilitiesThe Lay Member is responsible for:
- Making decisions on individual patient funding requests (IPFR), in line with the All Wales Policy
- Ensuring that the interests of patients and the wider population of Wales remain at the heart of the discussions and that decisions made take account of those views
- Commitment to attend meetings regularly and adequately prepare for meetings in order to fully contribute.
Specific attributes and competencies
The Lay Member will need to:
- Beable to give an independent view on matters relating to the patient and public perspective of funding healthcare treatments;
- Have the ability to understand and interpret often complex healthcare information;
- Have a high degree of personal integrity
- Have a high degree of personal resilience in order to make difficult decisions on the information provided
This Job Description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder.
Confidentiality
To ensure confidentiality in all matters relating to patients and staff and to information obtainedduring the course of serving on the Panel.
Performance review
6 monthly performance reviews will be held with the Chair of the Panel.
Patient and public involvementCwm TafHealth Board has a statutory duty to ensure that patients, clients and members of the public are involved in decisions about their healthcare. Employees should be mindful of this and do what they can, as appropriate to their and level of responsibility, to meet this duty.
Equal opportunities
Cwm Taf Health Board aims to maintain the goodwill and confidence of its own staff, service users and the general public. Cwm Taf Health Board strives to be an employer of choice and aims to ensure that no job applicants, employees or patients are unfairly disadvantaged on the grounds of gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, colour, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, trade union membership, or any other factors that are not relevant to their capability or potential. At all times employees should carry out their duties in accordance with our Equal Opportunities Policy.
Health and safety
The post holder will be required to observe local Health and Safety arrangements and take reasonable care of him/herself and persons that may be affected by his/her work ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
Terms of appointmentAppointment would be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, previously known as a CRB check and references.
RemunerationThe Health Board recognises that the opportunity to claim expenses is important from an equal opportunities perspective and in ensuring that all individuals have access to voluntary opportunities.
The Health Board will ensure that there is a clear, consistent and accessible system for claiming out-of-pocket expenses and that all volunteers are aware of the procedure. The Health Board pays travelling expenses to volunteers at the rate approved by the HMRC.
Claims should be received within a month of the panel.
Termination noticeIf you wish to step down before the end of your tenure the Health Board would request one month’s notice.
Person Specification
Lay Member – Individual Patient Funding Request panel member
Skills/ Abilities/ Knowledge / Essential / DesirableLive within the boundary of the desired Health Board /
Able to commit to attending meetings regularly and adequately preparing for meetings /
Not currently an NHS employee /
Able to engage with individuals at all levels and build effective working relationships /
Able to exercise tact and diplomacy to achieve results /
Knowledge of Healthcare provision across Wales /
Understanding of equity and diversity and commitment to applying these principles /
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive personal data. /
Ability to understand and analyse complex information /
High degree of personal integrity, demonstrating both confidentiality and probity /
Experience of working on a public sector body /
Experience of making difficult and potentially contentious decisions based on the information received /
Ability to bring a professional and patient centred approach to the Panel /