International Patient Focus and Public Involvement
We believe it is important to look beyond Scotland to see if other countries have developed approaches to involving people and improving patient experience that we can learn from.
In addition, we believe that there is much that we can share with others from our own experience in Scotland. Over the last few years, we have built strong links with colleagues in other parts of the UK. However, there is also much to be learned from looking further afield.
Through online research and a review of the literature, we have been investigating a number of different countries in order to build a picture of:
- how comparable the health service policies and structures are;
- key organisations and contacts;
- useful resources and case studies that we can share with our own staff and across the NHS in Scotland.
In February, we held an event which looked at participation in health and the key priorities and challenges for the next ten years. This included speakers from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Italy and Australia.
If you know about patient focus and public involvement work taking place in other countries, please tell us about it.
Useful links:
Active Citizenship Network (ACN)
The Active Citizenship Network was founded in 2001 to promote consumer rights and the participation of citizens' organisations in public policy-making at national and European level. It also promotes the annual European Patients' Rights Day on 18th April.
European Patients' Forum (EPF)
The European Patients' Forum is a Europe-wide alliance of 45 national patient organisations which was founded in 2003 to represent the collective voice of patients at European Union level. It facilitates the sharing of good practice on patients' rights, equitable access to treatment and care, and health-related quality of life at European and national levels.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement is based in the USA but leads the improvement of healthcare throughout the world. It promotes ideas and tools for improving the care of patients and helps healthcare systems to put these into practice, including resources for implementing patient-centred care.
International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO)
The International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, based in London, represents patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promotes patient-centred healthcare around the world. The membership is made up of over 200 patients' organisations working at local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers.
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
The International Association for Public Participation seeks to promote and improve public participation in the work of government and industry in nations throughout the world. Based in the USA, it has over 1,500 active members in 26 countries. It advocates for public participation, conducts research and provides technical assistance, resources and information.
Picker Institute Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that builds and uses evidence in order to champion the best possible patient-centred care and works with patients, professionals and policy makers to improve the standard of patients' experiences.