NHS Somerset believes that we can learn from the experience of the people who use our services. Public involvement is essential to bring about a genuine partnership to help reduce health inequalities and improve health care. Engaging with people enables a better understanding of why and how services need to change. Please click on the 'Consultation Events' link for information on current consultations and the 'Patient Participation Groups' link for more ways to get involved.

Your views are important and we are always looking for new ways to help people get more involved in the work of the Trust. You can get involved in a number of ways, which are described in our Patient and Public Involvement Strategy.  These include: 

• regular surveys and questionnaires about the quality of the services, staff, food and environment we provide.  We are always grateful to those people who help us by completing and sending back the questionnaires

• listening events and talks, which are held throughout the area so you can drop in and give your views on the services we offer and have the opportunity to speak to staff

• you can use the Have Your Say section of this website to send us your views or your experiences

• some GP surgeries host patient participation groups as well as surveying patients.  Please contact your local practice manager about what is happening in your surgery;

• If you would like to become a regular member of a committee, user group or steering group with the Trust you can contact the Associate Director of Patient Experience

• If you have a concern about the service you have received from us, you can raise it directly with staff. If you feel you are unable to raise a comment, concern or suggestion about our services you can also contact the confidential Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

• If would like to make a complaint you can write to the Complaints Manager