Delivering real change by working together

Heather Eardley, Head of Projects and Partnerships

The Patients Association is a well-respected independent campaigning organisation for people using the health and social care system. People who use services have a unique perspective and their views need to be respected, their contribution valued and when involved seen as equal partners. As a consequence in recent years we have begun to work with organisations in collaborative projects to ensure people who use services are the heart of change and service improvement.

Over the last six years we have initiated over 120 projects, all very practically based and picking up on what is important for patients, their families and carers. Currently we have 17 projects in progress, working with NHS Trusts and other health and social care organisations on a range of topics including improving complaint handling. This has included setting up patient complaints panels, training staff and volunteers and developing a toolkit for trusts on ensuring independence in complaints handing. This work will be presented at the National Complaints Managers Forum on 2nd March 2018.

Other examples of how patients are influencing health and social care include looking at tools to enable patients to care for themselves more in partnership with GPs and other health staff. We have produced a nutrition checklist, are part of the National Audit of End of Life Care and are developing a feedback tool for friends and relatives of bereaved patients. We are also working with NHS England at a local level with GP practices to develop data which will help local Patient Participation Groups monitor performance and quality.

The above work involves patients and carers in many aspects of service improvement and is supported by a small team of locally based project managers. Much of my time is spent talking to people from other organisations and patient groups, and developing new projects and partnerships by involving patients in influencing and improving services. No two days are the same and working from my base in the south west means lots of my time is spent on the phone, using Skype or participating in webinars. I work closely with our helpline and Policy and Communications team in London.

I am also working with Plymouth University as a project team member for an exciting project called EPIC which aims to improve the use of technology and innovation in both health and social care in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Heather Eardley,

Head of Projects and Partnerships

Latest

Developing GP practice groups

We've been working with patient participation groups in Hertfordshire and West Essex for more than a year now. In this workshop, the team review progress to date.
Patients Association statement on planned strike action by junior doctors

Festive season strikes will strike fear into patients waiting for care. We urge both parties to return to talks.
Understanding changes in primary care: your wider general practice team

In this webinar, we’ll look at some of the new professionals patients may see in general practice, such as social prescriber, paramedic and mental health practitioner.
Changes in primary care, understanding the role of the reception team

We had a great panel join us to talk about the plan to recover access to primary care and talk about the new reception team.

Personalising care and offering patients choice

In the last of our blogs on the development of an outpatient strategy, we reflect on what we learned about patient choice, personalised care and treating the whole person.
Kindness, reasonable adjustments and consistency needed across outpatients

In our second blog about the work we’re doing on outpatients with NHS England and the Royal College of Physicians, we look at staff education, health inequalities, integrating care, and staffing.
What patients want from an outpatient strategy

We’ve been working with NHS England and the Royal College of Physicians on a new strategy for outpatient services. In the first of three blogs, we reflect on what we've heard from patients about their experiences of outpatients.
Patients can't wait - our letter to the Prime Minister

Our letter to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asks him to intervene to ensure the NHS has the resources it needs to deal with winter pressures and that patients get the treatment they need.
We must act to prevent unfair care

State of Care, the annual review of health and social care in England, describes services in decline and inequality on the rise. The decline must be halted.
The critical role of patient partnership in patient safety

Yesterday was World Patient Safety Day and Chair Ann Lloyd Keen RN NDN FQNI FAAN FRCN reflects on how safety is improved in healthcare settings when patients are involved in their care.
Support for ICSs to embed patient partnership in your work

We bring genuine patient engagement and expertise to our collaborations with healthcare organisations. We can support your efforts to work in partnership with patients and communities.
Partnership key to public health messages

Andrew Dougal, outgoing Chair of the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland, explains how partnership working leads to better public health.
The transformative effect of social prescribing

Christiana Melam, Chief Executive of the National Association of Link Workers, and one this year's Patient Partnership Week speakers, explains how Social Prescribing Link Workers can help combat escalating health challenges, unlocking health and happiness.
Patient choice at the heart of Elective Recovery Taskforce Plan

The Elective Recovery Taskforce’s plan promises that patients in England will be told about their right to choose where they receive care. We look at that and what else the plan offers patients stuck on waiting lists.