2003-PRESENT PATIENT VOICES: DIGITAL STORIES OF HEALTHCARE

Since 2003 we have been gathering the stories of patients, carers and providers of care and helping them to shape their experiences into short, multi-media ‘digital stories’, combining pictures, music and voiceover. Their stories are then available to a national or international audience, via the internet, CD-ROM or DVD; their brevity and authenticity give them an unusual power to touch the hearts as well as the minds of clinicians and managers of healthcare.
The project has developed from the original dozen or so stories, to a series of workshops, and a programme of research. It has been a marvellous opportunity for us to synthesise our rather unusual blend of technical expertise, counselling skills, background in English literature and years of using stories to make education ‘delightful’, with our passion for ensuring that the voices of patients, carers and others are heard.
We have worked with the Royal College of Nursing, the National Clinical Governance Support Team, the National Heart Improvement Programme, and a Strategic Health Authority and have recently been approached by several other organisations involved in delivering and improving health and/or social care to help them capture and present their stories.

2005 INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLINICAL GOVERNANCE IN PRIMARY CARE

CLIENT: THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE

After carrying out the feasibility study for this important study, we were commissioned by the NAO to find out what patients and carers think of the quality of care they receive. We were delighted to have the opportunity to design an appropriate research methodology that enabled us to gather the stories of the ultimate consumers of healthcare, and then to report on our findings.

2005/6 PRIMARY CARE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

CLIENT: NATIONAL CLINICAL GOVERNANCE SUPPORT TEAM

Initially invited to carry out research and write a number of topics for this major e-learning programme for primary care and practice managers, we were then invited to join the education steering group in order to advice on accreditation and academic rigour. This led in turn to consultancy on assessment, development of study guidance, educational and instructional design of the learning materials, preparation of guidelines for facilitators, advising on evaluation criteria, open learning editing and educational development of the nine modules comprising the first phase of the programme.

2005-2006 RCN LEARNING ZONE: NUMERACY, DYNAMIC DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION SHARING & DISCLOSURE

CLIENT: THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING

The RCN’s Learning Zone provides CPD for members of the College via accessible ‘chunks’ of learning on an increasingly wide range of topics that are crucial to the professional practice of safe, high quality care. We have been involved in the development and specification of content, instructional and educational design as well as researching and writing the content for these three learning areas; this has entailed close liaison not only with RCN Lifelong Learning Fellows, but also with subject consultants and web designers.

2004 AND 2005 ENGAGING CARERS AND FOCUS ON CARERS

CLIENT: NATIONAL CLINICAL GOVERNANCE SUPPORT TEAM

Working closely with the NCGST and a group of carers, we organised these two conferences at rather short notice. Engaging Carers provided an opportunity for approximately 60 carers and healthcare professionals to meet as equals to discuss ways in which carers could be more fully engaged partners in care. Focus on Carers, held one year later, highlighted the need for carers to be recognised and acknowledged as an essential pre-requisite to being fully engaged. The learning from the conferences has been written up and our work with carers continues.

2004 NHSA MAKING A DIFFERENCE - ENGAGING CLINICIANS IN PCTS

CLIENT: NATIONAL CLINICAL GOVERNANCE SUPPORT TEAM AND NHS ALLIANCE

We worked closely with the author to edit this book while establishing text and cover designs; we then carried out all production work including the preparation of several sets of proofs and overseeing print and delivery of this book.

2003/2004 CLINICAL GOVERNANCE MATTERS AND CLINICAL GOVERNANCE WORKS

CLIENT: THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING

The original commission to write one undergraduate (Level 3) module on clinical governance, to be delivered via the UK eUniversity’s virtual learning environment, expanded to include instructional design and specification of the modules, including the assessment strategy as well as research, writing and some project management of what became two modules. We also consulted on the interface between content development and web-based delivery, and organised video sessions (including briefing both patients and video technician) to capture the stories of two expert patients, intended to ensure that the patient voice was clearly heard throughout the materials.

2002 AND 2004 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF CLINICAL GOVERNANCE IN PCTS

CLIENT: THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE MODERNISATION AGENCY

We were invited to tender for – and were delighted to win - this major national project to develop learning materials for Board Teams of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England and Wales. We were involved in specifying the materials, carrying out research, liaising with the author, carrying out editorial work, conducting two stages of piloting the materials, devising the analysis parameters, briefing the analysts, participating in steering group meetings, briefing designers and project managing the whole project.
We also handled print and distribution of printed materials to some 2000 Board members of 63 Primary Care Trusts throughout the country, collection and inputting of data and subsequent analysis and production of CD-ROM-based presentations to be fed back to PCTs. More detailed analysis has been required in some cases and initial investigation into online delivery has been carried out.
The second edition, incorporating the learning from the results of the first pilot survey, was developed and delivered to a further 30 PCT board teams during 2004; data was collected, results were analysed and presentations were prepared and fed back to Board teams as before. In total, 93 PCT Boards (one third of all Primary Care Trusts) participated in the two surveys.

Progress through open learning

Copyright Pilgrim Projects Limited 2010 Last revised: January 22nd 2010