Northern Ireland
What do user representatives do?
Being a user representative takes time, energy and commitment but can be very rewarding. The role of the user representative is to...
- Be a 'critical friend' to the service, offering an alternative perspective, and sometimes challenging the assumptions of healthcare professionals and managers.
- Engage positively with professionals and NHS organisations, understanding the budget constraints and that it takes time for organisations to change.
- Network with as wide a range of groups and individuals as possible to find out what other people with diabetes think.
- Suggest ways that other service users might be involved and engaged in the process of service planning.
- Feed the range of views of people with diabetes into the discussions at LDSAG meetings.
If you become a user representative, don't worry – you are not on your own, Diabetes UK Northern Ireland staff are here to support you.