How to get involved

There are many ways to get involved with the Northern Trust and help us improve our services.

You could:

Join a focus group or attend a meeting
Become part of a service user panel or forum
Take part in patient surveys

Some services already have user panels that meet regularly.

If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch.

We will give you the information and training you need, reimburse you for expenses, and provide you with any personal support you may need to take part

How to contact us

Telephone: 028 2766 1377
Email: InvolvingYou@northerntrust.hscni.net

Join our Involvement Network

The Northern Trust Involvement Network is a group of service users, carers and representatives from local organisations who live or are based in the Northern Trust area. There are currently over 300 members.

Being part of the network gives you the chance to help shape and improve our services. We may contact you to:

Share your views when we are planning or reviewing services
Give feedback on information such as leaflets or patient information packs (for example, layout, design and how easy they are to understand)
Help make sure our information is clear, accessible and user-friendly

We also send members updates about local support services and any training or opportunities that may be of interest.

Carer Pathway Steering Group

The Trust’s Carer Pathway Steering Group brings carers and the Trust together to improve communication and work in partnership.

The group helps make sure carers are involved in decisions about services and works to raise awareness of the important role of unpaid family carers across the Trust area. It is led by carers, with both the Chair and Deputy Chair roles held by carers.

Disability Consultation Panel

The Disability Consultation Panel helps shape the work of all five Disability Action Plan projects.

The panel makes sure good practice is put into place locally and checks that the Trust’s Disability Action Plan is being carried out properly.

Read more about the Disability Consultation Panel

Engagement Advisory Board

Given the challenges faced by health and social care, we are open to new ideas and different ways of working.

We have publicly invited people to apply to join a new Engagement Advisory Board. The Board will represent all the communities we serve.

Membership of the Board will reflect all the communities we serve. Members will work with Trust staff to help us improve how we engage with people, making sure our approach meets the needs and interests of everyone. There will be a particular focus on targeting groups that are often harder to reach.

Find out more about the Engagement Advisory Board

The Learning Disability Forum

The role of The Learning Disability Forum is to make the Trust more accessible. The Forum assists with interviewing staff, training staff, and making information easier to access. It is led by people who use services.

Medicine and Emergency Medicine Service User Engagement Panel

The Medicine and Emergency Medicine Service User Engagement Panel provides an opportunity for members of the public, including service users and carers, to give their views on services and be part of the discussion to help shape and improve services for the future.