Framework sections highlighted: Listening, Reach

Giving People a Voice in Healthcare

The HIPPOCRATES project is a large-scale, six year study, with a widespread team including patients and public, anaesthetists, surgeons, researchers and designers. Their aim is to develop interventions that will improve surgical outcomes in patients experiencing deprivation.

Community Organisers worked with the HIPPOCRATES Health Project to lead co-design workshops in Salford, Haringey, Birkenhead, Luton and Westminster. In each area, they brought participants together to share their experiences and discuss how support, before and after surgery, could better meet people’s needs.

People with lived experience of financial hardship explored ideas including preparation for surgery, financial support and closer monitoring during recovery.

The workshops used interactive materials – such as patient journey storyboards to facilitate discussion and allowed participants to share personal experiences, reflect on barriers across the surgical pathway, and provide feedback on proposed interventions.

 

“It’s important the interventions are tailored to the needs and preferences of those we aim to support. Patients are more likely to accept the interventions if they’ve had the opportunity to influence decisions.”
Katie Gilchrist, Qualitative Researcher

The workshops created space for voices often underrepresented in health research, many of whom have direct or indirect experience of navigating the NHS, helping ensure that people’s everyday experiences informed the design of future care.

These co-design workshops formed a key element of the Hippocrates research project ensuring patients/public representatives have an equal voice in discussions with health professionals, researchers and other professionals.

CEO of Community Organisers, Nick Gardham will present the outcomes of these sessions at the Royal College of Anaesthetists Research Conference in Southampton in November.

It's essential that those who are often most affected by decisions made at a national level have a say over them at a local level. If we want successful outcomes for people and places then we need to ensure that people with actual experience have their voice heard and we need to get to the root cause of why they are disproportionally affected in the first place.
Nick Gardham, CEO Community Organisers

Interested in training?

Inspired to find out more about community organising or want to further develop your understanding and practice. Get in touch with us and we will connect you in with one of our many training opportunities

Enquire about training