Engaging with patients and the public: reviewing options and learning from the past

This was the second in a series of seminars aiming to support the strategic development of new clinical commissioning groups, providing an opportunity for participants to explore some of the challenges facing clinical commissioners and examine options for addressing these in ways that shape underlying values of commissioning groups and help assure their success.

Joan Saddler, National Director, Patient and Public Affairs, Department of Health, started the seminar by giving an update on the latest developments regarding clinical commissioning groups and patient and public engagement in the Health and Social Care Bill. Dr Stephen Shortt, GP, Principia Partners in Health and PEC Chairman at NHS Nottinghamshire County, then explained Principia’s approach to patient and community involvement, as a pathfinder consortium.

Don Redding, Director of Policy, National Voices (and formerly of Picker Europe), also joined the seminar, and in his presentation reflected on the challenge of involving patients and the public, and the progress made by PCTs in engaging communities and patients in commissioning.

These presentations were followed by round table discussion with over thirty attendees, providing much opportunity for learning and networking.

Other events in this series

For further details about the other events from this series, follow the links below to visit the dedicated event pages:

• Public health and GP commissioning, 5 April 2011
• Unleashing the potential of primary care: lessons from New Zealand’s experience of organised general practice, 23 June 2011
• Mind the gap: how will clinical commissioning groups work with specialists?, 14 September 2011
• Clinicians as commissioners and providers – can they really manage the conflicts of interest?, 8 February 2012