Patients Association

@patients-association

We are an independent charity campaigning for patient partnership. For our social media community guidelines, see:

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Patients Association@patients-association· 28d

We welcome the recognition of patient experience as a core pillar of high quality care. Now we need to see the ambition for patients to have real power, not just voice, put into practice. Read our joint statement with @pickereurope.bsky.social on the new quality strategy: buff.ly/lXGRh5P

"We agree that delivering high quality care is a shared responsibility across the NHS and support the renewed focus on tackling structural inequalities and unwarranted variation within the health service. Strengthening how patient experience is measured and improved is essential – only by focusing on what matters most to patients, service users and their families and carers can care become truly person centred.

Patients Association@patients-association· Jul 1

Do you receive, or have you previously received, home enteral feeding and used homecare services? We're looking for patients and carers to share their experiences to help us understand what's working well, what could be improved, and what matters most. buff.ly/IjgJTjz

Expression of interest - Understanding home-enterally fed patients’ experience of homecare services

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 29

Welcome to Patient Partnership Week 2026! At 3:45pm today we'll be kicking off our week of free webinars with a candid conversation with @drhnaqvi.bsky.social @nhs-rho.bsky.social that will explore the causes of health inequalities and the role of trust in improving outcomes #PPW2026

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 26

Patient Partnership Week begins on Monday but there’s still time to register! Across seven free webinars, we’ll explore some of the biggest questions facing health and care today. Book now: buff.ly/R2pia4u #PPW2026

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 25

Why do many patients still feel unheard, confused, or excluded when communicating with the NHS? Our webinar next week will explore whether NHS communication is truly designed with patients, or simply delivered to them. Book now: buff.ly/m89Eg9E

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 24

What progress has been made on the 10 Year Health Plan’s commitment to give “power to the people” by amplifying patient voice, expanding patient choice and reprioritising people’s experiences of care? Join our free webinar with @pickereurope.bsky.social next week to discuss: buff.ly/OJHaL2V

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 23

"I'm struggling to eat without it making me unwell… This is impacting my home life, work life and my mental health. Yet there is no rush." Find out how patients are impacted by delays to accessing care and more in Patient Experience Survey May 2026 report: buff.ly/YCFZyaB

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 20

We're delighted to have Vivienne Parry OBE,  journalist and author, chairing our session on Why prioritising patient trust increases the value of using technology and data to improve research and care at #PPW2026 Book your free place: buff.ly/DN7qsSW

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 19

Know your rights as a patient and understand what help you can get in our guide - now translated into Arabic, Bengali, Portuguese and more! www.patients-association.org.uk/patient-info...

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 19

🤔 What does meaningful patient partnership actually look like in practice? Join us during #PatientPartnershipWeek2026 to explore the ideas shaping the future of care. Watch the video to find out more and register here: buff.ly/R2pia4u

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 17

On Tuesday @sarahtilsed.bsky.social gave evidence to the committee that will scrutinise the NHS Modernisation Bill. Throughout the passage of this Bill, our question is: will these changes help patients receive better care and improve access, and how will we know if they do? buff.ly/FowFUxe

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 16

From trust and health inequalities to patient choice, communication, data and AI, our #PPW2026 free webinars will tackle the issues shaping care now and in the future. Sign up: www.patients-association.org.uk/patient-part...

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 15

We’re working with the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) to learn about people’s experiences of social prescribing. Your feedback will help shape NASP’s strategy and support the delivery of the best, most appropriate social prescribing services for all Take the survey: buff.ly/wpPuL7w

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 11

"When we did Data pact work, patients said they know there will be breaches. So if it happens, they need to be the first to be told. So it's just about transparency..." @rachel-p.bsky.social at #NHSConfedEXPO

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 11

"If there is power to the patient, they need to have agency. Clinicians may be worried that patients will come into appts saying they have used AI to work out their health conditions...that's ok because it's their health! It's not saying clinicians are wrong" @rachel-p.bsky.social at #NHSConfedEXPO

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 11

"The NHS faces a genuine productivity challenge, but patients are clear: efficiency gains cannot come at the cost of care quality or safety." This morning @rachel-p.bsky.social was on the panel for 'What does a post-productivity NHS look like?" at #NHSConfedEXPO

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 10

Rachel is presenting at the NHS Excellence Awards this evening and speaking at these events tomorrow 👇

What does a pro-productivity NHS look like?
Thu 11 Jun · 08:30 – 09:30 · AI theatre
Panel member

AI in healthcare: Miracle cure or ethical hazard?
Thu 11 Jun · 10:00 – 10:40 · Exchange Auditorium
Panel member

For the 'data' good: balancing innovation, ethics and public value
Thu 11 Jun · 12:00 – 12:40 · Charter 3
Panel member

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 9

Thank you to everyone joining our 'What does it really mean to wrap services around patients?' webinar this morning Our Chair Julie Thallon, along with Minal Bakhai, Rachel Quinn, Stella Vig and Mike Molete will be discussing what genuine person-centred care looks and feels like: buff.ly/hgfJd3F

Patients Association@patients-association· Jun 9

Our latest project set out to do something practical: to translate two patient information resources into six languages, and in doing so, to better understand the experiences of patients who speak English as an additional language in the UK.

Patients Association@patients-association· May 27

What drives health inequalities and what will it take to change them? @drhnaqvi.bsky.social will discuss the importance of building trust with communities to improve health outcomes in our first webinar of #PPW2026 on 29 June Book now: buff.ly/Jkjq3EV

Patients Association@patients-association· May 25

The 10 Year Health Plan and NHS Modernisation Bill both set out a clear ambition to put patient voice at the heart of NHS reform. Our Patient Experience Survey May 2026 report suggests there is still a long way to go in turning that ambition into everyday practice: buff.ly/kqh1StG

What matters to you? A question seldom asked
Seven in ten (69%) patients were never asked what matters to them during appointments
Just one fifth (17%) said their priorities were listened to and acted upon
Only two fifths (41%) felt like a genuine partner in their care

Patients Association@patients-association· May 22

Our helpline is now closed for the bank holiday weekend, and will reopen again on Tuesday 29th May at 9:30am. You can still view all our patient information on our website: buff.ly/EXCraHj

Patients Association@patients-association· May 21

Many patients in our survey described healthcare professionals as compassionate (57%) and competent (60%). At the same time, only 52% said they felt listened to and taken seriously in appointments. Our latest Patient Experience Survey: buff.ly/kqh1StG

Patients Association@patients-association· May 19

🗣️ “Services are under such strain nobody has the capacity to go beyond a very basic service. You have to advocate for yourself."

Pressure on staff
Almost two thirds found healthcare professionals to be compassionate (60%) and competent (57%)
Just over half (52%) felt listened to and taken seriously in appointments
"I genuinely do not believe that the medical professionals don't care, it's that they are working to burn out."

Patients Association@patients-association· May 19

🗣️ “Sometimes hard to work out what test results mean. Is a high number a good thing? Do I need to change anything I am doing?”

Digital care
Seven in ten (72%) used the NHS App regularly or occasionally
Almost two thirds (63%) found it helpful
"After recently being in hospital it is disappointing to find none of my test results are available on the NHS app."

Patients Association@patients-association· May 19

🗣️ "Received an appointment letter 2 days after appointment; impossible to reach either the hospital switchboard or the department."

Lost in the system
Just over a third (37%) felt informed about their care
Half (52%) said their care was not well co-ordinated
“Lack of two-way communication. Emails from NHS are always 'no reply' so it's impossible to ask for further details or explanation."

Patients Association@patients-association· May 19

🗣️ “I have been trying to access basic care for 6 long agonising years and I am just hitting a brick wall… it is very traumatic”

ACCESS: Barriers to access faced by patients
More than half (57%) of respondents struggled to access both GP and hospital appointments

Two fifths (41%) were still waiting to access care; of those who self-identified as having disabilities, over half (52%) were still waiting to access care

Patients Association@patients-association· May 11

Our free webinar with NHS England on the NHS Online hospital launching in 2027 is happening today at 2pm. There's still time to register: buff.ly/jyG0kJT Hope to see you there!

Patients Association@patients-association· Apr 21

It's Black maternal health awareness week! Black women are still 2.3 times likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth and 6 weeks after in the UK (MBRRACE, 2025). Find out more from Five X More: buff.ly/62E66lG #BMHAW26

Patients Association@patients-association· Apr 13

The new NHS online hospital launches in 2027, but what is it and how will it work? Join our free online event on 11th May at 2pm to learn more: buff.ly/7MiCFlA