Richards persuasively discusses the power of patient narratives in allowing health systems to learn and improve – highlighting the role of an independent, not-for profit company, PatientOpinion, in doing this in the NHS (1).
At the same time, Patient Opinion is having to respond to NHS England’s launch of a new government funded entity, CareConnect, which aims to perform a similar function (2).
NHS England has talked about working with entrepreneurs, and the vital role they have in fostering innovation and cost savings in the NHS (3). Yet Patient Opinion see their existence threatened by the new entry of a tax-payer funded look-a-like (4).
If the NHS is short of money, why is NHS England attempting to duplicate one of the few areas where others are already acting to perform a function (and doing it well)? In addition, there are arguments for using an independent platform for patient feedback systems, including a reduced perceived fear of reprisal for speaking out about care.
Why does NHS England seek to reinvent the wheel, rather than building on the success of existing organizations? Perhaps the role of NHS England should be to consolidate the experiences of patients captured across many platforms, but not seeking to control the process.
Competing interests:
Felix Greaves researches feedback systems for healthcare, and has worked with Patient Opinion, NHS England and NHS Choices. His work has received funding from NHS Choices.
Rapid Response:
Re: Tell us how it was for you
Richards persuasively discusses the power of patient narratives in allowing health systems to learn and improve – highlighting the role of an independent, not-for profit company, PatientOpinion, in doing this in the NHS (1).
At the same time, Patient Opinion is having to respond to NHS England’s launch of a new government funded entity, CareConnect, which aims to perform a similar function (2).
NHS England has talked about working with entrepreneurs, and the vital role they have in fostering innovation and cost savings in the NHS (3). Yet Patient Opinion see their existence threatened by the new entry of a tax-payer funded look-a-like (4).
If the NHS is short of money, why is NHS England attempting to duplicate one of the few areas where others are already acting to perform a function (and doing it well)? In addition, there are arguments for using an independent platform for patient feedback systems, including a reduced perceived fear of reprisal for speaking out about care.
Why does NHS England seek to reinvent the wheel, rather than building on the success of existing organizations? Perhaps the role of NHS England should be to consolidate the experiences of patients captured across many platforms, but not seeking to control the process.
1. Richards T. Tell us how it was for you. BMJ. 2013 Jan 20;347:f6872.
2. Ramesh R. NHS to launch Tripadvisor-style website [Internet]. Guardian. 2013. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/28/nhs-launch-tripadvisor-st...
3. NHS England. The NHS is opening up to health technology entrepreneurs [Internet]. 2013. Available from: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/08/14/entrep-event/
4. Hodgkin P. CareConnect: there is a better way [Internet]. Patient Opinion. Blog. 2013. Available from: https://www.patientopinion.org.uk/blogposts/187/care-connect-there-is-a-...
Competing interests: Felix Greaves researches feedback systems for healthcare, and has worked with Patient Opinion, NHS England and NHS Choices. His work has received funding from NHS Choices.