Dear colleague

News from Picker Institute Europe

This is the latest in a series of regular bulletins to inform you of developments in our work.

Common measurement of patient experience (1)

A Picker Institute Europe article in the Health Service Journal has argued the need to build consensus on what is meant by 'patient experience', and to establish common, benchmarked measures.

Common measurement of patient experience (2)

The survey co-ordination centre at Picker Institute Europe, working for the Care Quality Commission, is developing resources for NHS trusts to carry out local measurement of patient experience that can be benchmarked against previous national surveys. Questions and guidance for emergency departments and maternity are online. Inpatient, outpatient and day case are forthcoming.

Imperial invests in huge extension to national inpatient survey

In its drive to address the patient experience element of quality, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has commissioned Picker Institute Europe to survey 13,000 inpatients this autumn as part of the NHS Adult Inpatient Survey 2009. Extending the sample means clinicians and managers will receive detailed results relating to individual departments. For more information on extending your national patient survey contact:   Tim.markham@pickereurope.ac.uk

How should the NHS spend on patient and public engagement?

In the British Journal of Healthcare Management (vol 15, no 8) Picker Institute Europe suggests that PPE can prove its value during the funding squeeze if the NHS invests in proven interventions to engage patients in their own care and treatment, and in public engagement in deliberations over priority-setting.

Tomorrow's doctors need to learn how to share decisions

The General Medical Council has published revised mandatory outcomes for undergraduate medical education in 'Tomorrow's Doctors'. The final version includes items for which Picker Institute had argued, including learning how to elicit patients' views, concerns, values and preferences; and how to determine patients' wishes to be involved in decisions. See our submission to the consultation.

How academic medical centres can achieve high levels of patient-centred care

The Picker Institute in the United States has published case studies and a report on six centres that score highly as being patient-centred, examining lessons learned from their various approaches. It suggests the principles of such care 'must be incorporated into human resource policies that determine the way staff are recruited, trained, and rewarded'.

Political party conferences

Picker Institute Europe will be present at the three main political party conferences as an associate member of the Health Hotel network. If you wish to meet us there please email info@pickereurope.ac.uk

We hope you find this bulletin useful and informative.  For more details on any of the items in this bulletin or on the work of the Picker Institute in general please contact me using the details below.