If the 10-Year Health Plan is to deliver real change, patient partnership must be more than a buzzword, it must be the foundation. Patients continue to face disempowerment in a system that often speaks the language of partnership while maintaining deeply unequal power dynamics.
This session explores what meaningful patient agency looks like in practice, drawing on real-life insights from our helpline and focus groups. Patients consistently tell us they are left out of decisions, uninformed about their care, and too often treated as passive recipients rather than equal partners.
Chaired by Rachel Power, The Patients Association Chief Executive, you’ll hear from:
Ellie Howe, patient advocate and founder of A Note of Hope,
Julie Thallon, former nurse and Chair, the Patients Association,
Professor Alf Collins, former NHS England National Clinical Director for Personalised Care and trustee, the Patients Association.
Together, we'll explore how patient agency isn't just about empathy but about tangible outcomes that increase life expectancy and improve both patient wellbeing and system efficiency. Join us to explore how true patient power can transform the future of care.
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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