Conversations between patients and hospitals

Some hospitals and the newly created Clinical Commissioning groups are finding it difficult to engage in a meaningful and effective way with patients and the public. 

These are my thoughts on how they could hold a conversation with the public rather than 'engage' with them.

• Go out to the people – don’t expect them to come to meetings.  It’s the same old faces, like me who go to public meetings.
• Use language suitable for all
• Keep it simple
• Keep events small and short
• Don’t give too much information at any one time
• Leave time for reflection
• Be prepared to repeat and revisit issues
• Hold a conversation
• Use patient leaders/champions
• Feedback is essential. Explain how the input from patients has been used and has influenced change
• Be informal, don’t lecture/broadcast.
• Use staff, not managers/executives (?)
• Be bold, take risks, do something different.
• Social media is very powerful but it is a conversation. Those of us who use twitter get irritated if all we get are broadcasts and publicity messages.