With over 135 million outpatient appointments delivered in 2023/24, outpatient care is one of the most widely used services in the NHS. Yet despite its importance, too many patients experience long waits, inconsistent communication, and a system that can feel fragmented and impersonal. As demand continues to rise, the need for a more co-ordinated, patient-centred approach has never been clearer.
This timely and forward-looking session will explore a bold new vision for outpatient reform: one that places patients not just at the centre of care, but in true partnership throughout it.
Chaired by Sarah Tilsed, Patients Associations' Head of Partnerships and Involvement, you'll hear from:
Irene Poku, patient advocate,
Anne Kinderlerer, Digital Health Clinical Lead at the Royal College of Physicians
Theresa Barnes, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Services at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
It will unpack the key themes from Prescription for outpatients: reimagining planned specialist care, a joint report from the Patients Association and the Royal College of Physicians. This roadmap for reform proposes five ambitions and eight transformational shifts to create outpatient services that are timely, equitable, and genuinely collaborative.
As the NHS looks to the future through the lens of the 10-Year Health Plan, this is a chance to be part of the conversation about what outpatient care should look like and how we can get there.
About Patient Partnership Week 2025
Patient Partnership Week 2025 is all about the importance of listening to patients and acting on what they say. From rebuilding trust in regulation to breaking down barriers to care and making digital innovation work for everyone, the week brings together leaders, campaigners and people with lived experience to explore how true partnership can drive lasting change. Whether you're shaping policy or navigating care yourself, this is your invitation to be part of a healthcare conversation that puts patients first.
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