A few notes from a workshop for members of the Patient Forum at the British Society of Periodontology (BSP). The Patient Forum is a great diverse group of those directly affected by gum conditions who want to improve gum health by being actively involved with BSP and dentistry. You can follow @BSPerio on Twitter
An introduction
It may seem odd that a workshop on Making Your Voice Heard is facilitated by a throat cancer patient. I can assure you that there is no irony. I would actually say that I found my voice as a result of that experience. The diagnosis of a life threatening illness can tend to do that as it reminds us of the importance of living.
I have found that being actively involved in health services and research helps me understand my health, make sense of what occurred and makes meaning for my actions.
Simply, I want to make it better for others and that is something that the great majority of people working in healthcare services also want to see. Being involved with researchers adds further value as we get an understanding of the much broader issues and the uncertainties.
It is precisely our direct personal experiences that help us feel, think and give us the 'power' to make our voices heard. Such experiences provide us with information, knowledge and understanding. These can provide insights that are of great value to those providing health and social care services or seeking to do research.
Start by thinking about what you want to improve or change?
We began the workshop by considering where people were in their experiences of the condition and what they wanted to improve. The professionals who were present joined in as they too have opinions on what needs to change.
The group were asked to think about their experiences in 4 phases:
1) the time before diagnosis
This can be a useful way of moving beyond just telling our 'story' to reflecting upon the various events that happened.
Our experiences provide…
· Information - about what happened where and when
It can also help us consider what could be made better. We may want to change lots of things but it is sometimes best to start with something we feel strongly about and think that there may be a solution.
The Forum members worked in two groups and chose to consider improving dentist awareness of gum problems and addressing aspects of service provision, particularly for those who might not be able to access service.
Where to make our voice heard
In this instance, we presented to each other rather than to an individual or an organisation but in real life it is always worth considering who you are talking to, their role and what influence or power they have in helping deliver the change.
A presentation to a local Commissioning Group will be different from a talk to room of dentists. It is therefore helpful when practicing your presentation to ask those listening to place themselves in the shoes of the intended audience.
Shaping what we want to say
The basic framework described below was used with Macmillan Cancer Voices and developed initially from the College of Health by Gillian Fletcher and Jane Bradburn.
When we get a chance to make our voice heard it is worth having a framework in mind to help structure your thoughts and to make sure we cover a number of points.
The groups were asked to think about what a) a clear statement about our personal experience (something short and pithy that catches attention) b) Policies or Statements (what guidance and information is there about gum health) and c) Any audit or observations about what others think (to show that you have talked to others)
It can be useful to describe the problem but even better to be able to suggest some solutions. It can be helpful to say how you might help.
As we were in a practice or rehearsal mode the only rule was that any feedback had to be as a positive statement.
The short presentations by each group were succinct, powerful and compelling. The points raised covered the good and the poor of patient experience, recent evidence about practice and addressed health inequalities. Attendees commented on how the framework helped them get their points across and that it didn't necessarily need a group.
One last point, which we didn't touch on in the workshop, is about 'holding to account'. In other words, towards the end of any meeting with healthcare professionals or commissioners it is always worth asking what is going to happen next, when will it be done, who is going to do what, how will we know and where will we meet next.
Learn from others
Patient involvement has increased over recent years so it is always worth thinking about other patient communities with whom you might have things in common.
For the BSP Patient Forum this might be head a neck cancers, patients with thyroid problems or having had a stroke. Quality of Life is a major factor in healthcare so you may wish to look at those doing research into eating, swallowing and fatigue. Access to services was repeatedly raised in the workshop so you may also to look at provision of services and the issues around the determinants of health. The recent Marmot Review 2020 makes sobering reading.
And finally
Remember, it is NHS policy to involve patients and public with the development of health services and with research. For many years, we were missing from the tables and from the discussions.
A cartoon, years ago (I think it was in Punch), showed a Consultant with his registrars all beside a patient in a bed. The Consultant holds his hand up to stop the patient speaking and says “When we want your opinion, we will give it to you!” It may be an exaggeration but it captures a certain truth about how things were.
One medical journal illustrated us as ‘alien creatures’ at the table at the concept of us being involved with research.
We are not at these meetings to be the clinicians, the researchers or the scientists. That it their job. We are present to remind them of the purpose, provide insight from our experiences and together help create and develop the future.
What was particularly assuring about the workshop was the commitment by British Society of Periodontology (BSP) to involving people with direct experience of gum disease but also their intention to have representation on their Council.
Thank You to all the members of the Patient Forum and Professor Ian Needleman and Professor Nikos Donos, the 2020 President of the BSP.
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