In a letter from the Committee of Sponsors of the NHS (Committee on Selective Health Services) states that the service of working with committees can save the NHS a lot of money. This is because it is less time consuming, less stressful and it provides a high quality service. The time that is consumed is time that can be spent on actually treating patients rather than chasing down paperwork. Less stress also means that staff can spend their time actually helping patients and not wasting valuable time chasing down information. Lastly, the information that is collated and worked upon is much more efficient as it is collected, collated and worked upon in a timely manner that ensures the data is used.
A major issue that is tackled in the newsletter is that there are no certain guidelines or processes that ensure that the right people get involved in the process. Often, there are issues that are not known by the committee members themselves that are only discovered through the reports that are circulated to all members. However, this is where the role of the newsletter becomes important. It aims to bring to light those areas that may not have been highlighted in previous communications or by other stakeholders. For example, if a new case has arisen and requires further discussion between members of the committee, the newsletter can help disseminate this information.
The newsletter covers many areas that the regular press or media may not cover. It also highlights other issues that are not of interest to the general public that may be relevant to a select group of people. This could be things that affect the general public or those with disabilities. For example, there is often an increase in the number of people who use hearing aids but few people know that they have this condition.
By having a newsletter available, people can be kept informed about any developments and cases that are working their way through the NHS. This may relate to an under-staffed hospital, something that is causing problems for patients or perhaps an issue that affects all health service users. When a problem has been identified early, it can be dealt with more quickly and this will reduce the amount of time when waiting lists build up. By using the newsletter, individuals will be kept well-informed and any relevant issues can be brought to their attention.
Newsletters can also act as a form of ‘soft news’ as well. This type of news is one that is not passed on to the general public. It provides details that may not be known to a large number of people. This is particularly useful for stories that have been reported in the press but may not be known to a large number of people. The details can be verified and this gives people the chance to see if the story is true and relevant to their own situation.
Committee Newsletters is an important means of communication and information sharing within a Clinical Evidence Delivery Authority (CADDA). They are designed to keep all members up to date with what is happening in the organisation and with the latest developments. They are free to distribute widely so anyone interested in them can do so. All parties involved in CADDA meetings should read them regularly to get any issues raised and resolved. This newsletter is not a substitute for talking to other people such as managers and other professionals, but it can be used as a source of information.