Patient experience

2021 - Consultation response - Non-emergency patient transport
Our response to proposals arising from the review of non-emergency patient transport

2021 - Consultation response - Submission to call for evidence for a Women's Health Strategy
We submitted evidence for the planned Women's Health Strategy, outlining what women told us about their experiences of health and care.

2021 - Consultation response - Clinical standards for urgent and emergency care
In our response to proposals to change the NHS's approach to waiting times in A&E, we outline patients' views, which are overall supportive of the new measures.

2020 - Report - Being A Patient
The first report from our programme of work on patient experience.

2020 - Report - Being A Patient - Appendix
Details of the methodology and full survey results from our report 'Being A Patient'.

2019 - Report - Patients' views on possible changes to waiting times targets
We conducted a short survey to gauge support among patients for possible approaches to changing clinical standards (targets) around waiting times for different types of treatment.

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

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.
PVM blog: What Patient Voices Matter is teaching us

As you may know, last autumn we formed our lived experience advisory panel, Patient Voices Matter. Since then they've been meeting regular. Our Head of Patient Partnership, Sarah Tilsed, is a member of the group. She's going to be reporting back regularly on what the group are discussing and what the Patients Association is doing to repond to concerns raised.
PVM blog: The challenges of booking NHS appointments

When you're a carer and patient, arranging medical appointments to suit the family is a challenge - one not helped by NHS admin, says Mo, a member of our Patient Voices Matter group.
Patient partnership is needed to heal the rupture between patients and the NHS

Lucy Watson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Rachel Power, Chief Executive, reflect on a difficult week for patients.
Maternity services must listen to patients to avoid repeating failures identified in Ockenden Report

The Ockenden Report details massive failings in care and repeated failure to investigate serious incidents, even death at one English trust. Other services must learn from this report to keep women and babies safe.
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.
PVM blog: Why I joined Patient Voices Matter

Chayim is a member of our lived experience advisory panel, Patient Voices Matter panel. He lives in Manchester, is a practising Orthodox Jew and lives with several health conditions. In this blog, he explains why he joined the group and what his experience has been so far.

Seeing your medical records

This page explains how to get copies of your medical records in England and Wales.
Next of kin

Your medical next of kin is someone you nominate to receive information about your medical care.
Helpline - 0800 345 7115

Need health or social care advice? Call our free and confidential helpline on 0800 345 7115 (Mon-Fri 9.30am and 5pm).
Making a complaint

Most people are happy with the health and social care they receive. But sometimes things go wrong. If that happens, you need to know how to complain. This guide sets out your rights and offers advice on how to make a complaint.
You and your dentist

This page is designed to give you more information about finding a dentist and using their services. It includes tips on how to prepare for an appointment, the charges you can expect and how to make a complaint.
How we see the world

We believe that everyone should have access to the best healthcare when they need it most.
Meet the Board

Meet our Chief Executive, President and Trustees.
Long term conditions

About 15 million people in England have a long-term condition. A long-term condition is an illness that cannot be cured. It can usually be controlled with medicines or other treatments.
Report your care

Our 'Tell us about your care' partnership with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Patients Association Nutrition Checklist

The Patients Association Nutrition Checklist is a simple tool to help raise awareness and identify the potential risk of undernutrition by encouraging conversations with those who make be at risk. It also offers guidance on next steps, if someone is at risk. There are versions for patients and professionals.