Health news

Patients want more say in running the NHS

26th January 2010 - Patients in England on average use the NHS more than two thousand times in their lifetime, according to new statistics. However, a separate survey has also revealed that only about a fifth of people have helped shape health and care services so they better suit their needs.

A patient participation network says more people would like to have their say.

31 trips to A&E

Based on information gained from the General Household Survey and other official statistics between 2006 and 2008, an average person in England uses the NHS 2,153 times in their life. It’s estimated during that time we collect 1,330 prescriptions, make 31 visits to Accident and Emergency and take 12 trips in an ambulance.

The Department of Health set out to discover how many people have had a proactive say in the way the health service is run. Ipsos MORI interviewed by telephone 848 people in England aged 16 and over.

22% of people told pollsters that they had tried to influence local health services; however, six out of 10 people said they would like to do so if there was a simple way for their views to be heard.

The Local Involvement Network (LINk) says it wants more people to be aware that it can give a platform for people to have their say.

Listening to patients

The 150-strong network listens to what people have to say about the way health services are run locally and then tells councils and the NHS what patients are saying. The Department of Health says LINk groups are run by individuals and community groups and independently supported.

Barbara Robinson has taken part in activities in a LINk group in Norfolk. In a statement she says “For many years we unsuccessfully battled to secure justice and equal rights for people with ME. It wasn’t until our LINk offered to support our campaign that we felt as though we had a voice.

“Over the past 12 months, inspired and supported by our LINk, we’ve been able to give our campaign the sort of exposure it needs and are seeing the benefits of being a LINk member.”

Influencing the NHS

The Department of Health says other LINk groups in England have staged successful campaigns. They include:

• A group in South Tyneside which cut waiting times for young people needing orthodontic care
• A LINk in the London Borough of Merton which ensured breast screening literature was available in Braille
• A campaign in Dorset which led to a review of dementia services

Victoria Sheard, Deputy Head of Policy at the sexual health charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust tells us by email that "Proactively getting patients involved in LINks provides vital feedback and enables services to become more efficient, effective and patient focused.

“Feedback is especially useful in areas like sexual health, which can often be overlooked because of embarrassment and stigma.”

Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary says in a statement: “The more people that get involved in their Local Involvement Network, the more powerful their voice is and therefore the more impact they can have.”

He adds: “This is essential at a time when the NHS must make sure that it is improving quality at the same time as value.”