A HOSPITAL has recruited former patients to have their say during the staff interview process.

The division of surgery at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, has taken a step towards patient and public involvement by inviting patients to sit on the interview panel to appoint senior staff members.

So far, the approach has been very successful and two patients have been involved in recruiting staff for two senior positions - a ward manager for general surgery and a clinical nurse specialist for the upper gastrointestinal team.

Stewart Fairweather was on the interview panel for the role of ward manager.

He said: "I would be happy to be involved in the future and would like to visit the ward in a few months to see how things are going."

Panel members felt that by using Mr Fairweather and Elizabeth Drabble, who was on the panel for the clinical nurse specialist, the interviews were more focused on patients and that by involving patients the interview process was enhanced.

Clinical matron Kath Elliott said: "There were mixed reactions at the start, but it went really well. The patients carried weight and I think it was a positive experience for everyone involved.

"We are continuing to use patients on our interviews and in the long term it benefits the staff and our patients.

Ward manager Kath Edmondson has been in her post for nine months and clinical nurse specialist Helen Wescott started work at the end of September.