Consumer representatives

A health consumer representative is a member of a committee, project or group who voices consumer perspectives and takes part in decision making on behalf of health consumers.

They may be nominated by and accountable to, a consumer organisation or they may be individuals who are in a volunteer capacity.

The role may provide for a small payment to cover the costs of participating.

By consumer we mean patients or service users and their families or whānau.

Consumer representatives can get involved in decision making processes about:

• health services
• planning
• policy development
• setting priorites
• addressing quality issues in the delivery of health services

Consumer respresentatives have a 'voice' - that means 'something to say' about heath and disability.

This will be due to your experiences in life, as an individual with a health challenge and/or disability, or through caring for people living that way.

They do not need to know everything about health and disability, what they bring is knowledge of the realities and practicalities of using specific health services from your community's perspective.

Waitakere Health Link and Health Link North are working with Te Whatu Ora - Waitematā to support the involvement of health consumer representatives.

If you are interested in becoming a consumer representative, contact the Health Links by email:

• Waitakere Health Link (covers West Auckland)
  info@waitakerehealthlink.org.nz
  
  
• Health Link North (covers the North Shore and Rodney)
  info@healthlinknorth.org.nz