Our service in action

Developing a PPI strategy

Brent PCT in north west London asked us to help create a public and patient involvement (PPI) strategy fit for World Class Commissioning purposes. We carried out a series of in-depth interviews with local authority officers, PCT staff, and a variety of community groups among the very diverse population. We gathered and analysed all relevant documentation from the PCT, and all relevant policy guidance and regulations.

We applied our own knowledge of the evidence base for what works, and what does not, to achieve the many different objectives that require an element of PPI. The PCT Board took our recommendations for its three year strategy.

Feedback from the local population to identify priorities

To inform its development plans, South Birmingham PCT needed to find out what the local community wanted from their services. The Picker Institute analysed key board documents and feedback from local patient groups to identify recurring health issues and the options for alternative services.

From here a telephone survey was developed asking the public their views about preferred service approaches and the trade offs they would be willing to accept. The findings fed directly into the trust's planning and into its 'help us plan future healthcare' initiative, which won a Department of Health Regional Health and Social Care award.

Public attitudes to healthcare services in north London

The Picker Institute conducted a telephone survey of 1200 Islington Primary Care Trust residents to gain feedback on usage of health services in the past 12 months and to identify gaps in provision. The study particularly focused on the accessibility of local health services and views on the co-location of health services with other community services. Fast turn-around findings were used to inform plans for the location and service offering of health centres across the area.

What people want in their new hospital

Recent work for the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust included a series of managed events with the public, recruited from specific communities within the city, to find out their views on what was needed from a major new hospital building. We then established a panel, roughly representative of the local population, to continue giving feedback to the Trust as it develops the building's design.

Visitor lounges, affordable parking, freedom to leave the waiting area, rooms for private conversations and overnight facilities for families of patients were just some of the suggestions put forward by participants.

Design of primary care buildings: what the public think

A study with Lambeth Primary Care Trust and Space Works investigated staff and patient perceptions of the design of primary care buildings. Commissioned by the estates division of the Department of Health, the study will influence the development of GP premises in the future.

Focus groups with staff and patients were used to develop a questionnaire for distribution to 500 staff and 5,000 patients in 23 GP surgeries across Lambeth. Findings revealed that universal access, safety, privacy and confidentiality all ranked as important factors to take into account when designing the built environment.
Open the project report.

Attitudes to and experience of the NHS

Twelve focus groups were run with patients, staff and the public throughout the North West region exploring their views, experience and understanding of the NHS as part of the Darzi review. They were asked to explore what information and factors shaped their views, as well as what they felt should be priorities for the future. The results are influencing the shape of healthcare delivery in the region, where a commitment has been made to make "a major effort… to engage with patients and staff to emphasise the importance of healthy living as a way of preventing ill health."
Open the project report.