Patient Lead

The patient voice needs to be at the centre of healthcare

Join the CPOC Board as Patient Lead and help us transform the patient journey

What is CPOC

The Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) is a cross-specialty collaboration made up of 11 partners as well as a wider stakeholder group dedicated to the promotion, advancement and development of perioperative care. CPOC is hosted and majority funded by the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

What is Perioperative Care

To both patients and the public, the phrase perioperative care may be unfamiliar and yet, it should be a normal and fundamental part of the healthcare process within the NHS.

The word peri means around. The word operative means surgery. So perioperative care refers to the care that a patient should get as they journey form the GP surgery (when they might be referred to hospital), right the way through to the moment they are back home recovering.

Our Vision

CPOC s vision is to improve the health of people of all ages, at all stages of their surgical journey, by promoting the highest standards of perioperative care.

Improving perioperative care will make a difference to a lot of important things to patients. These include supporting patients to get fitter before surgery, better pain management (getting mobile quicker), recovery times (getting you out of hospital faster), reducing any anxiety felt and putting the patient at the centre of all decisions about treatment.

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed individual to represent the patient voice on the CPOC Board and lead the team of patient representatives.

CPOC is committed to ensuring the patient s voice is at the centre of everything the organisation does, therefore we are seeking a Patient Lead to strengthen and direct the patient voice and agenda.

This is an unpaid, voluntary role although reasonable expenses will be paid. Much of our work is done remotely but some travel may be required to meetings in London.

About You

We welcome people from all backgrounds and areas of the UK.

A Patient Lead will be someone who is familiar with the wider healthcare landscape and can demonstrate collaborative engagement with colleagues or stakeholders at board level. You should be keen to help advance the cause of perioperative care in the UK.

You are interested in and have the following skills:

• An interest in the NHS and delivery of high standards of healthcare
• An interest in understanding the practice of perioperative care
• The objectivity to consider health issues from an unbiased patient s perspective
• The flexibility to arrive at shared judgments on a variety of issues and to support the majority decision
• The confidence to work with a wide range of clinical colleagues
• The ability to communicate your ideas to a wide range of stakeholders in a variety of ways e.g. meetings, presentations, events, articles and blogs

Experience of board work would be an advantage but is not essential to apply for this role. Having an interest in sharing your patient perspective on a range of challenging healthcare issues is most important.

Many CPOC meetings take place virtually to give flexibility around working commitments, therefore an ability to use standards windows software including Microsoft Teams, Word and email is essential alongside personal access to the internet. This will ensure you are able to undertake the requirements of the role and get involved in everything CPOC has to offer.

The Patient Lead will ideally be able to join online weekly meetings, attend quarterly Board meetings and Executive meetings, Chair the Patient and Public Engagement Network (PPEN) and ad hoc discrete projects as appropriate. We are looking for an individual with strong team working and communication skills with a variety of stakeholders.

How to apply

On clicking apply you will be redirected to our website to complete your application.

You ll be required to submit an up-to-date CV (no more than 2 pages) and short personal statement (maximum 450 words) explaining why your appointment as the Patient Lead is of interest to you and what you specifically would bring to the role.

Deadline: 09 May 2025

Interview: 06 June 2025

Commence role: 07 July 2025