For patients
We work with patients who can see a better way to do things, whether that's because they had a bad experience with NHS care, or simply can see an better way to do things.
We talk with people who want to use their own experiences to improve things for future patients -
and who are dissatisfied with the idea of change being achieved on the specific
hospital ward or GP surgery they attended, but instead want lessons to be learnt across the country,
to keep everyone safer and healthier.
To achieve this, policy change is required, because policy sets the rules that the health and social care system operate
within and therefore affects every aspect of a patient's experience.
The first step is a conversation. We'll ask about what happened, and what you'd like to happen now and in the future. We know it's difficult to talk about your experiences, and there's never any pressure to say or share anything you don't feel comfortable to.
Over time, we'll work together with you to discuss some of the changes that could be made that would improve things for you, and others like you.
As things progress, we'll have lots of conversations about the situation. Together we'll do some research, and look at the direct and hidden costs, both in financial and human terms, of the current situation.
We might talk informally with some healthcare professionals, but would never share any personal information without your permission - it would just be a general discussion, to make sure we aren't forgetting an important factor that needs to be incorporated into our proposal. If you like, you can be involved with this.
Over time, as things progress, we'll figure out and narrow down the best potential avenues for change. We'll then scope and develop a pilot scheme, possibly in liaison with academics and think tanks, to make sure we'll get all the data we need from the pilot.
The pilot scheme will then run, to test out how the idea works in practice. We'll run the pilot in partnership with care providers, such as hospitals. This will enable us to find out if it works as we'd thought, and if it makes life better for people.
After the pilot, we'll analyse the data. If things don't go to plan, we'll go back to the drawing board, or make some adjustments and extend the pilot. If the data shows the idea works, we'll then structure what started with a simple idea for change, expressed in plain and human terms, into a constructive policy recommendation with a clear business and ethical case for change.
We'll make our policy proposal to the appropriate health authority for the situation. For example, it could be a presentation to operational managers in hospitals, to NHS England, or to the Department of Health and Social Care.
We believe that when patients' needs are met, they will have better outcomes, and feel safe and cared for while in NHS care, enabling them to recover faster and live healthier, happier lives. Because everyone is different, we need to hear from diverse voices - from different people, from different walks of life - so we know what patients need and want. You don't need to have a fancy idea - it can be simple and small. You don't even need to know for certain what change you want yet. We'll meet you where you are, and work with you to develop and test your ideas, before translating them into language that healthcare professionals and policymakers understand, to help you achieve change.
After the project is complete, if you want to be, you'll be featured on our website with a profile explaining the work you did, and how many lives you touched, how much money you saved the NHS, and how much time healthcare professionals saved because you spoke up. You can put this, and the skills you've learned and demonstrated while contributing your ideas, on your CV. We hope that this will encourage others to speak up, as they see that people just like them have achieved big changes.
When you speak up about what you need from the health and social care system, you can make a difference to so many people's lives. If you have something you want to share, please get in touch.