Blogs

Nominations for member-elected trustees of National Voices are open. Hilary Newiss, chair of National Voices blogs about the important role of a trustee and the opportunities it provides.

Seven days have passed and everything has changed. A landslide became a minority government. Two health ministers , David Mowatt and Nicola Blackwood, lost their seats. Hard Brexit might become a bit softer. Two party politics is back, for now.

But, actually, a lot of things haven’t changed at all.

Research into patients’ experience is going on in various ways all over the country. Often charities are commissioning research which might not be known to academics, and vice versa. Speaking as a research manager, I have always found it really important to find out what research others have done and what their findings were. More than this though, it’s very helpful to hear what research is currently underway but not yet published, or is in the pipeline, and what the focus will be.

All of us in National Voices sign up to the concept of person-centred care, enabling the patient voice to be heard and collaborative decision-making to flourish.  But let me be challenging. Whatever we do at policy or organisational level, our efforts may remain a pipedream unless we can influence the individual consultation: what actually happens between health professionals, patients and family members in that brief moment of time when they come together. What can we do to ensure that each encounter enables the patient to be heard and their views to be taken seriously?