The Patient and Carer Network (PCN) is a network of volunteers in England and Wales who support and shape the work of the RCP.
What does the PCN do?
The PCN aims to improve care for patients and influence the future of health and healthcare by:
- supporting the RCP to listen to what patients and carers need from doctors and the health service
- championing person-centred care and patient safety by influencing the way that healthcare is designed and delivered
- advocating for health and care services that support people to manage long-term health conditions and are joined up across hospitals and the community
- upholding the principles of patient care that underpin the RCP’s Future Hospital Programme
- working with the RCP to help ensure patients and carers have access to the information they need.
Examples of how the PCN has worked to achieve these aims are highlighted in the PCN Annual Report 2019-20 which provides more detail on the range of projects and activities PCN members have been involved in.
The PCN believes patient and carer involvement should be:
- Meaningful: patients and carers participating meaningfully in RCP work to support and influence real improvements in health and health care for all
- Collaborative: building understanding across the RCP and externally that working with patients and carers leads to better outcomes
- Accessible: being inclusive and communicating information clearly, openly and in accessible formats for all
- Responsive: patients and carers, RCP colleagues and stakeholders sharing successful work in public and patient involvement across the RCP and beyond.
The PCN is a key partner in supporting and influencing the work of RCP speciality committees, boards and working groups.
In 2018 the Patient Involvement Unit (PIU) and PCN began a piece of work to evaluate patient involvement on RCP committees. The evaluation resulted in the PIU and PCN being able to produce some clear guidance and recommendations that encourage the ongoing development of patient involvement at the RCP, while also supporting lay representatives who volunteer their time on committees and projects.
The recommendations support committees in considering the best approach to involving patients, carers and lay representatives, and some best practice guidance to follow once they are involved. The areas covered in the recommendations include:
- general principles
- planning
- recruitment
- supporting and valuing
- monitoring and evaluating.
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