Work with us

What we offer

The Patients Association has six decades of experience of working with patients from all walks of life and supporting organisations to partner with patients and communities to improve services.

We are dedicated to supporting patient organisations to support their engagement with patients and carers.

Our work with our partners is award winning. In July 2023 we were awarded a Gold standard in the Ovid Patient Partnership Index for the AMR Patient Shield Project. This project co-produced resources for patients and carers of things to consider when deciding about antibiotics.

Learn more about our work in four key areas with healthcare organisations and read about some of our recent projects in the sections below. We offer services in:

Patient Engagement

Training and Development

Patient Support

Understanding Patient Perspectives.

If you would like to learn more about how your patient, carer and community engagement work can benefit from working with us, contact [email protected]

Switching to Biosimilars

Have you been asked to switch from a biologic medicine to a new biosimilar?

Are you a healthcare professional who will be talking with patients about switching?

When a doctor, nurse, specialist or pharmacist wants to talk to a patient about switching their medication, it’s natural that patients will have many questions. When it comes to switching from a biologic medicine to a biosimilar, those questions may include: what’s the difference between a biologic and biosimilar? Will the biosimilar work in the same way? What if I choose not to switch? What if I want to switch back? Providing patients with information and resources to address these questions will help them to make an informed decision.

For the past few years, the Patients Association has been working with patients, clinicians and pharmacists to create a set of resources to help patients decide what’s best for them when considering switching to a biosimilar medicine and to help healthcare professionals to better engage patients in the decision-making process. Together, we can all make sure that patients have the information they need to make the best and most informed decision.

Switching to biosimilars leaflet for patients

Switching to biosimilars leaflet for healthcare professionals

The resources were updated in April 2021.

Please let us know how useful you found the information in the leaflet and video

Couldn’t find what you were looking for? Our team might be able to help - details of how to contact them below.

Further information

Understanding patient needs in switching from biologic to biosimilar medicines - Patients Association 2018 report

If you want to find out more about biosimilars, you might find the following list of organisations useful.
(The Patients Association is not responsible for information on external sites)

NHS
Information on biosimilars

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)
Information on biosimilars
Helpline: 0800 298 7650
Email: [email protected]

Crohns and Colitis UK
Information on biosimilar drugs for adalimumab (Humira)
Helpline: 0300 222 5700
Email: [email protected]

Birdshot Uveitis Society (BUS)
Biosimilars to Humira (adalimumab) - Q&As
Email: [email protected]

The Psoriasis Association
www.psoriasis-association.org.uk
Tel: 01604 251 620
Email: [email protected]

Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK statement on biosimilar insulin
Tel: 0345 123 2399
Email: [email protected]

JDRF (Type 1 diabetes charity)
jdrf.org.uk information on biosimilar insulin (published September 2015)
Tel: 020 7713 2030
Email: [email protected]

National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)
NASS biosimilar information
Helpline: 020 8741 1515

Lymphoma Action
Information on biosimilar lymphoma medication
Helpline: 0808 808 5555
Email: [email protected]

Contact the Patients Association helpline

The Patients Association offers a free national helpline providing specialist information and advice to help patients make sense of their health and social care.

Patients can talk directly to trained advisers in strict confidence about any concerns, questions or general experiences they have regarding the NHS and social care systems.

The helpline is open from 9.30 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and calls outside these times are returned as soon as possible during opening hours.

If you would like to contact the helpline, please call free on 0800 345 7115, or visit the Patients Association helpline page on our website for more information.

The Switching to Biosimilars project has been developed by the Patients Association, supported through sponsorship from Novo Nordisk and Amgen, and an unrestricted educational grant from Sanofi. No companies had any influence on the development of the materials but they have commented on the final versions.

First published December 2019; last updated August 2022; next review planned April 2024.

Latest

Supporting patient engagement and revitalising Patient Participation Groups

We have completed an exciting initiative in partnership with the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to support patient engagement and revitalise Patient Participation Groups post pandemic.
New project focuses on improving health equity

Bristol Myers Squibb awards the Patients Association grant to research how to improve access to healthcare for patients affected by health inequalities.
The Untold Patient Stories: Shedding the light on the realities of life with a long-term condition

The Patients Association is running a webinar to support Future Health’s campaign, The Forgotten Majority. This important campaign aims to raise awareness among policy representatives from Government and other political parties, as well as other key stakeholders, about the real life every day challenges faced by people with long-term health conditions and advocate for meaningful policy change as we approach the General Election.
The next stage of our work on gathering patient insights on data

The Patients Association is beginning a project that will give patients the chance to ask questions about the software that will underpin the Federated Data Platform.

Supporting patient engagement and revitalising Patient Participation Groups

We have completed an exciting initiative in partnership with the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to support patient engagement and revitalise Patient Participation Groups post pandemic.
The next stage of our work on gathering patient insights on data

The Patients Association is beginning a project that will give patients the chance to ask questions about the software that will underpin the Federated Data Platform.
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.
Patient information on elective surgical hubs

This short animation explains the potential benefits of having planned surgery at an elective surgical hub and guides you through the process.
Partnering with patients in the development of the outpatient strategy

We’ve been working with the Royal College of Physicians and NHS England on the development of a new outpatient strategy, ensuring patients contribute to the redesign and delivery. We arranged patient panels made up of people who regularly use outpatients to discuss what works well, what could be improved, and access. Members of the panels have also taken part in summits hosted by the Royal College of Physicians and NHS England.
Partnering with patients on outpatient strategy

We’ve been working with the Royal College of Physicians and NHS England on the development of a new outpatient strategy, ensuring patients contribute to the redesign and delivery. We involved people who regularly use outpatients to discuss what works well, what could be improved, and access.
Let us help you understand the patient point of view

We can help organisations understand patients’ experiences and the impact of healthcare on their day-to-day lives.
How we support patients

We empower patients to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system with confidence.
Training programmes tailored to your organisation's needs

We are experts in supporting organisations to integrate shared decision making and patient partnership into their culture.
How we facilitate patient engagement

We facilitate partnerships between patients and carers and health and care organisations ranging from the public sector through to healthcare companies, to ensure patients' voices are heard and valued.

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