Patient feedback projects get £1m

Nine projects have been awarded a total of £1m as part of the Patient Feedback Challenge.

The challenge was created and managed by the NHS Institute and is funded by the Department of Health.

The one year programme aimed to find and spread good approaches to using feedback from patients to improve services.

A web channel was used to collect ideas and support the development of strong bids and projects.

The DH website says this ‘crowdsourcing’ of ideas was a fundamental part of the bidding process, giving organisations the chance to; "share their ideas, convince others of their value, get feedback to improve them and build links that will help ideas spread further."

About 150 projects were ‘pitched’ and the most successful ideas are being taken forward.

The web channel will now become the place to find out what is happening with each successful project.

DH director of public and patient experience and engagement Paul Streets said: “Competition for the feedback challenge award was extremely high and we had some tough decisions to make.

“We have selected nine projects that have proven methods of using feedback to improve patient experience, and have detailed plans for how they will spread this excellent practice.”

Peninsula Community Health’s Kinda Magic project has been awarded £100,000 to help develop the way patient feedback is gathered from patients with dementia or cognitive difficulties.

PCH is now working in partnership with other NHS organisations in Cornwall and across the country to share the current tool and work to adapt it.

Other winners are:

Valuing Frontline Feedback – Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust

Patient Partners – Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust

Patient and Family Echo – East Cheshire NHS Trust

Both Sides Now – NHS North East London and the City

Improving Healthcare Together- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Creating and Organisation that Values, Listens and Responds – Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Real Time Patient Stories – South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

iCARE at Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust