Placing users at the heart of policy-making

The new umbrella organisation National Voices is set to change the way that health and social care policy is made by ensuring that the voices of patients, carers and service users are heard at the heart of government. Today marks the start of the unique initiative with a first conference attended by voluntary organisations from all over England. Key figures from the Department of Health will have to account for their policies and commit to acting on feedback received from the 150 delegates.

National Voices Co-Chair Jeremy Hughes said: “Too long there’s been a gap between the rhetoric of health and social care policy and people’s actual day-to-day experience of services. We will do things differently. The conference will explore what really matters to users, and ensure that National Voices presents a voluntary sector voice that reflects the diversity of members’ views and needs.”

Jeremy Hughes explained that the National Voices conference would set the style for the organisation - “listening, reflecting and interacting.”

National Voices will fill the gap between national voluntary organisations, members and supporters and the people who make policy. In the past, service users have not always been able to make their voices heard, and policy-makers have found it difficult to find out what people really have to say about services.

All that is about to change, National Voices Co-Chair Harry Cayton said:

“Today‘s conference will look at three key areas - the NHS constitution, social care green paper, and top-up payments. We‘ll also identify other issues that are important to service users, but have yet to be addressed. Officials will be with us to take part in that discussion, and ministers are committed to acting on our report.

By bringing the voices of users together under the National Voices umbrella we will open the door to Whitehall and contribute directly to policy.”