What We Need Now

We follow the publication of our report What We Know Now – a rapid response review of 11 National Voices members’ surveys, which gave us compelling insight into the experiences of people using health and care services during the first wave of COVID-19 drawn from over 66,000 responses – with What We Need Now, first-person testimony of the first wave that is equally as powerful.

The report is drawn from National Voices OurCOVIDVoices platform, which asked people to contribute their personal experiences and stories, and features some co-produced recommendations as to how people would like to be treated, and how they would shape services.

From these insights National Voices has facilitated the creation of a new set of I Statements, simple expressions of how patients hope to be treated presented as a straightforward, practical guide for application in health and care settings.

This document tells the people who design and deliver services what people are actually experiencing and what they feel truly effective and just treatment should look like.

Some people are experiencing mental health stresses, some financial strains, and most are experiencing delayed or altered treatment.

These stories are accompanied by a set of I Statement illustrations designed to represent the message at the heart of each of the eight statements. We have made the report available here in four versions for different requirements: 

• Full report
• I Statements and Recommendations
• Just Recommendations
• Just I Statements

And we have made the illustrations available for your use if you would like.

Please take a look at What We Need Now film - a short explainer of our I Statements. 

The webinar recording is avaiable to watch back on our YouTube channel. 

For more information, contact Communications Manager Charles Howgego: charles.howgego@nationalvoices.org.uk  /  07931 905790