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.
