From June 2006 in England a
new national Patient and Public Involvement Resource Centre will
work with the NHS in leading and sustaining patient engagement in
the planning, design and delivery of healthcare services. The
Centre – run by a consortium made up of the University of Warwick,
the Centre for Public Scrutiny and the Long Term Medical Conditions
Alliance – will be performance managed by the NHS Institute for
Innovation and Improvement.
Several organisations in the UK
directly represent and/or support patients’ interests at
national level. The main organisations are:
Patients Association
PO Box 935
Harrow
Middlesex HA1 3YJ
Helpline: 0845 6084455
Patients Forum
The Patients Forum is a
network of national and regional organisations concerned with the
healthcare interests of patients, families and carers. Through
collaboration it strengthens the work of individual patient groups
and participates in informing and influencing
decision-makers.
Patients Forum
Riverbank House
1 Putney Bridge Approach
London SW6 3JD
Tel: 020 7736 7903
National Association for Patient
Participation
The National Association
for Patient Participation promotes the concept of self-help
and aims to see a Patient Participation Group (PPG) in every
GP practice. It maintains a volunteer network of officers who train
practices in setting up local PPGs in their locality.
National Association for Patient Participation
FREEPOST (SEA 14774)
Aston
Sheffield
S26 2ZZ
Tel: 0114-287-4035
Long Term Medical Conditions
Alliance
The Long Term Medical
Conditions Alliance is an umbrella organisation of national
voluntary bodies working to meet the needs of people with
long-term medical conditions. It helps those living with chronic
long-term medical conditions to become more involved in decisions
relating to their own care. It develops self-management programmes
and influences policy at national level.
Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance
202 Hatton Square
16 Baldwins Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ
Tel: 020 7813 3637
Patient Information Advisory Group
The Patient Information
Advisory Group provides advice to the Department of Health on
issues of national significance involving the use of patient
information. Its membership is drawn from patient groups,
healthcare professionals, and regulatory bodies.
Patient Information Advisory Group
Department of Health
Second Floor, Princes Exchange
Princes Square
Leeds
LS1 4HY
Tel: 0113 280 6709/6481
Website:
www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/piag/Index.htm
INVOLVE
INVOLVE is a national advisory Group, funded by the National
Institute for Health Research, which aims to promote and support
active public involvement in NHS, public health and social care
research.
INVOLVE
Wessex House
Upper Market Street
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO50 9FD
Tel: 02380 651088
E-mail: admin@invo.org.uk
Website: www.invo.org.uk/
Patient Concern
Patient Concern is an independent
organisation committed to promoting choice and empowerment for all
health service users.
Patient Concern
PO Box 23732
London
SW5 9FY
Developing Patient Partnerships
Developing Patient
Partnerships is a UK charity whose health education campaigns
and initiatives aim to encourage better communication between
patients and health care professionals. It promotes the
responsible use of NHS services and offers practical advice on
self-medication.
Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP)
Tavistock House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1 9JP
Tel: 020 7383 6803/6144
NHS Centre for Involvement
The NHS Centre for Involvement will work with NHS staff
and organisations to engage with patients and the public more
effectively and implement change based on their
information.
NHS Centre for Involvement
7 Vanguard Centre
Sir William Lyons Road
Coventry
CV4 7EZ
Tel: 024 7615 0266
International Patient Groups
There are also several international patient organisations
that promote patients' interests:
European Patients Forum
The European Patients
Forum represents Europe-wide patients’ organisations and is
consulted by the European Commission and other EU institutions
regarding issues of concern to patients.
European Patients Forum
145, Route de Thionville
L-2611 Luxembourg
Tel: +352-29 79 70
International Alliance of Patient
Organisations
The International Alliance of
Patient Organisations is a global umbrella body of national
organisations representing patients across all disease areas and
promoting patient-centred healthcare around the world.
International Alliance of Patient Organisations (IAPO)
703 The Chandlery
50 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7QY
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7721 7508
Organisation-Based Patient Groups
Many national healthcare
organisations have patient groups that input into information
resources and/or policy decisions. They ensure that the patient
voice is represented on issues addressed by those
organisations. Such groups are too numerous to list in full
and it is always worth contacting an organisation to ask how
the views of patients are represented within that body.
RCGP Patient Partnership Group
The RCGP has an active
Patient
Partnership Group (PPG) through which it
maintains links with patients and ensures that their
concerns are taken into account in the development of College
policy and general practice. The Group comprises GPs and lay
members, advising the College on a range of medical issues and
producing guidance.
RCGP Patient Partnership Group
14 Princes Gate
Hyde Park
London
SW7 1PU
Tel: 020 7581 3232
The College also runs a
Patient
Participation Award aimed at encouraging the
development of patient participation in general practice within the
UK. This award is to be used to benefit the patients of a practice
or to further patient participation.
BMA Patient Liaison Group
The British Medical Association
(BMA) represents doctors from all branches of medicine all over the
UK. Set up in 2004 the
BMA
Patient Liaison Group (PLG) provides it with an
informed patient view on healthcare, and has direct input into the
Association's policy decisions.
GMC UK Public and
Patient Reference Group
The General Medical Council (GMC)
is the body that regulates doctors in the UK. Its
UK Patient and Public Reference Group (PPRG)
enables patients and consumers to contribute to the development of
GMC policies and procedures. The Group discusses issues such as the
public availability of information about doctors, and changes to
the guidance on standards of conduct and behaviour.
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