Hospital Board members become volunteers for the day

Across the country, increasing numbers of hospital Chief Executives and Board Directors and spending time as volunteers on the wards and other hospital departments to increase their awareness of the care their patients receive and to help them understand the workload of their front-line staff.

I am particularly grateful to the person who wrote with the following information about the initiative started by the Chief Executive at his local hospital. I haven't named the person or the hospital as it could ruin the effect.

He writes...

I understand that the Chief Executive Officer dresses down on occasions and dons old clothes, takes a carrier bag and sits in public areas waiting to be asked what he is doing there. He has also tried to get into wards to see how far he can go before being challenged.

Please tell us if you know of any other hospitals where the board take a hands-on attitude to understanding their staff and patients.

Other examples include....

Jill