Cardiovascular Care Partnership UK

The Voice of Patients – A Partner to Clinicians – A Catalyst for Change

For patients and carers

Your experience is valuable.

You don't need any qualifications. If you have lived with a heart condition, or cared for someone who has, you know things that others in the room don't.

Six ways to take part

Choose what suits you. Most people do a few.

Man working on a laptop in a café Woman reading on a sofa Woman reading in a café

Time on your own

Reading, thinking and deciding what you want to say.

Two couples chatting in a café Three people in conversation over coffee Four friends talking round a café table

Meeting other members

Ask questions and share what you know.

Adults listening at a workshop A talk in a bright room A presenter speaking to a group

Learning

Talks and short courses to build your confidence.

Mixed group discussing papers round a table Group talking round a table Group in discussion at a white table

Talking it through

Discuss a topic as a group and agree a view.

Team working together round one laptop Four people reviewing documents together Group working with notes round a table

Creating something together

A small group works on a guide or response.

Mixed-age group in a meeting A meeting where one person speaks and others listen People round a meeting table

Being consulted

Researchers and the NHS bring us their questions.

More about the six

What's involved

Reading

We send papers before meetings. Read what you can, and ask if anything is unclear.

Meetings

You sit alongside doctors and researchers and give the patient view.

Support

You can ask for a mentor at any time, and step back whenever your health needs you to.

Getting started

There is no application or interview. A good first step is our short self reflection: sixteen yes/no questions that suggest a good place for you to start.