News

London Patient Voice launches first report scrutinising public engagement in NHS England (London)

NHS England (London) is successfully engaging with patients and the public according to an independent report launched today (Monday 5th October). The report – written by London Patient Voice – sets out how NHS England (London) has made good progress over the last year in engaging with patients, especially when set against a difficult operating environment undergoing significant structural change.

London Patient Voice is an innovative and independent scrutiny panel set up by NHS England (London) to assess whether it is successfully engaging the public and patients in the London region. NHS England (London), LPV and the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) which recruited the panel, believe the unique approach of assisting patients and the public to scrutinise how well the NHS is involving them in service delivery and planning, could provide a useful template for other areas to emulate.

Sandy Marks, Chair of London Patient Voice and Islington resident, said: “We are a group of Londoners who have been given the opportunity to see how NHS London has been fulfilling its duty to consult with patients and public. Against the turmoil of NHS reorganisation, they have made an enthusiastic and generally good start. We were determined not just to criticise and I hope the constructive recommendations in our report result in long term improvements in patient outcomes.”

Su Turner, CfPS Head of Programmes, said: “Listening to patients is essential if we are to improve outcomes. We have been impressed by NHSELR determination to proactively engage with patients in effective scrutiny and challenge. CfPS will continue to support these efforts, helping LPV to provide its valuable insights which improves the way NHSELR plans and delivers services.”

Caroline Alexander, Chief Nurse, NHS England (London) said: “In London we know that one of the best ways to improve services is to hear directly from the people that use them. This report clearly demonstrates that most of the time we’re getting it right;  peoples voices are coming through loud and clear. We’re constantly working to find new ways to reach our patients and the public and asking for feedback on how well we are doing this from an independent group of patients and the public is an important extension of this. I hope this approach is emulated elsewhere.”

The report contains a number of recommendations, all of which have been accepted by NHSE (London) many of which are already being implemented. The recommendations made by LPV include: improvements in the planning and consistency of training, better recruitment of lay members, on-going support for members, ensuring parity of esteem of patient involvement and learning from best practice in other organisations. LPV also recommended that patient involvement is hardwired into commissioning to improve patient experience and outcomes.

Further information

London Patient Voice (LPV) is an independent citizen scrutiny group, which has the role of reporting on how NHS England London Region (NHSELR) implements its statutory participation duties, and involves patients in commissioning decisions. LPV members are:

  • Sandy Marks (Chair)
  • David Winskill
  • Janice Tausig
  • Juliet Campbell
  • Nermine Taylor
  • Two young people from Mentor UK

The Centre for Public Scrutiny is a charity devoted to good governance and good decision-making. Our work is about exploring how good governance can be better understood, promoted and brought about in practice. We work with politicians, with academics and other thinkers at national level, with local politicians and those who support their work, and to those who provide services on the ground to work out how decisions can be made in a way that is more accountable, more transparent and which meaningfully involves a wide range of people – in particular, the public.