Appointed as a member of the user committee in Health South-East
He is already an active member of Momentum, the association for arm and leg prosthesis users. And now Thomas Sebastian M. Blancaflor is becoming active at a higher level, appointed as he is to sit on the user committee in Health South-East.
Thomas (43) sits on the 12-person selection since 1. October. The committee is an advisory body for the management of Helse Sør-Øst, the largest of the state’s four regional health trusts (RHF).
About the background for the few years old sample, Helse Sør-Øst writes on its website
“User participation is one of the best ways to ensure that patients ‘and relatives’ voices are heard.”
In practice, Thomas will ensure that many are heard: Health South-East covers a population of 2.9 million people and thus at all times thousands of patients and relatives.
Thomas, a psychotherapist and cohabitation therapist and resident of Kløfta near Oslo, lost his left hand and entire left leg in a blasting accident in the Armed Forces in 1999.
His new role does not prevent Thomas from continuing as a board member of Momentum Øst and board member of FFO (Disabled People’s Joint Organization) Akershus.
Thomas joined the user committee when Momentum Øst proposed him to FFO, which further proposed him to Helse Sør-Øst, where the board agreed to Thomas.
A seat on the committee means a lot of work beyond monthly committee meetings. Thomas makes it clear that he definitely intends to be active, that better communication between patient and doctor is among what he is passionate about, but that he is still now in the beginning «excited about the extent to which I get the opportunity to make a difference . »