COVID-19 policy

2022 - Consultation response - COVID-19 inquiry draft terms of reference
We offered comments on the draft terms of reference for the public inquiry into the handling of COVID-19.

2021 - Consultation response - Making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector
In this response, we outline our thoughts on mandatory vaccination for health and care staff.

2021 - Position statement - Vaccines and healthcare professionals
We believe that people who work with patients should be vaccinated against COVID-19

2021 - Position statement - Care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
We call for care to be maintained for all groups who need support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 - Consultation response - Submission to the Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry
A record of our submission via the inquiry's online form.

2020 - Report - Pandemic Patient Experience
Our survey of patients shows that the emergency response to COVID-19 came at a heavy cost to patients.

Latest

The Patients Association annual general meeting 2022

Join us to hear about our work in 2021 and plans for the rest of this year, at this year's annual general meeting.
The patient voice: The secret weapon against superbugs

Last year, we held an advisory board with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to discuss how patients could be more involved in the fight against superbugs. Highlights from the meeting are now available. They include suggestions on how important patient partnership is when treating patients with serious infections and the need to look at the threat of superbugs from the patient’s point of view.
PVM Blog: NHS must provide accessible information

Ray is a member of Patient Voices Matter, our lived experience group. He does not feel the NHS is good at listening to patients or providing accessible information.
PVM Blog: Cancer diagnosis led to patient advocacy

Tara developed breast cancer when her children were very young. Her experiences led her to join service user groups, and from there she has spent decades advocating for other patients, including now with Patient Voices Matter

Fears for wound care patients after COVID-19 pandemic

One in 50 people in the UK lives with a chronic wound but wound care services are not something we talk about very often. This report, we hope, can start a conversation about the current state of wound care services in the UK, and how they can be improved.
Testing for COVID-19

Most people no longer have access to free tests for COVID-19. On this page we’ve information and links on how to get tests now and who is still eligible for free tests.
Antivirals for COVID-19 infection

Treatments are available for COVID-19. This page provides information and links to who is eligble and how to get treatment.
British Social Attitudes survey shows patients have run out of patience with NHS

The lowest levels of public satisfaction in the NHS since 1997 must be recognised by the Government and action taken to introduce patient partnership to rebuild patients relationship with the NHS.
The Patients Association sounds alarm over Government’s Living with COVID proposals

The Government's decision to lift all protection measures risks patients' health and the possible return to more normal waiting times.
The long road to recovery

The number of people waiting for hospital treatment is now 6.1 million, including 300,000 who have been waiting a year. We analyse the elective recovery plan and the integration white paper from a patient point of view.
Patient experience before the omicron wave: the storm before the storm

We have warned of how the health emergency has disrupted the relationship between patients and the NHS. Our latest survey shows things have worsened for some patients, and we worry for the long-term consequences.
Act now to protect the NHS

The Patients Association calls on Sajid Javid to prevent ‘catastrophic winter’ in a letter to the Health Secretary
Social care changes: how will the new charging system work?

What is the 'cap' and the 'floor' in the new plans for charging for social care? We give an explanation.
Patients Association urges cautious approach to lifting of COVID-19 restrictions

The possibility of lifting all COVID-19 restrictions on 19 July is of profound concern to us. Read why.