An innovative approach to boosting patient and public involvement

Abstract

Patient and public involvement is central to service improvement and research in healthcare. However, not all staff, patients and members of the public have the training, skills and confidence needed to get involved. Staff are not always persuaded of the benefits of such involvement, while patients and members of the public often lack knowledge of service improvement processes and the skills they require. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is keen to increase the use of patient and public involvement and looked for an innovative way of encouraging both staff and public and patient representatives to take it up. This resulted in an unusual style of conference where staff, public and patient delegates took part in 'speed-dating' sessions.