National Voices Annual Members' Conference & AGM

National Voices Members Call for 'More Torbays'

National Voices Members Call for 'More Torbays'

National Voices members called for more, inspiring examples of joined-up care, like that of the Torbay Care Trust, at their annual conference on 10 November 2011.

They were joined by Minister Paul Burstow; King’s Fund Chief Executive, Chris Ham; Lord Warner of Brockley and Norman Lamb MP to debate how to drive forward the joining-up of care for patients, service uses, carers and their families.

All agreed the example of Torbay Care Trust offers some excellent ways forward in joining up care for patients and other service users and we need to see other areas of the country both copying this work and also coming up with their own innovative approaches.

Too often patients have to navigate a confusing ‘web of care’ and often during the most stressful time of their lives. Eileen MacDonald - who has rheumatoid arthritis and volunteers with National Voices member Arthritis Care - says: “I have to navigate a complex web to get care and I’m not alone. A great many people with long-term conditions are in the same position. What we are all fighting for is a single point of access, someone like a specialist nurse, who can help us get the care we need instead of going through a maze. It is time to join up care."

Delegates also said:

• the voluntary sector should build on the work of National Voices and our partner groups such as the Care & Support Alliance in working together and driving change
• health and social care staff must take on board the expertise of patients, carers and other service users
• we need more toolkits to help people get the care they need.

Thank you to our conference sponsors Baxter and MSD.

Our conference report can be found here