Communication, communication, communication: it seems that the NHS is now seeing this as a key tool to improve efficiency and the patient journey. And for good reason. A recent survey found that 52 per cent of NHS professionals believe that communication between different areas of the NHS is the most important factor affecting their ability to carry out their role.
It was for this reason that Greater Manchester Trusts came together yesterday as part of an MC2 best practice forum to share ideas about how improved communication can ultimately improve the patient experience. The forum, which included talks from Mike Perls, CEO of MC2, Susan Osborne from South Manchester University, Mandy Wearne, head of Inspiration North West and Louise Hadley from The Christie, enabled trusts to learn about the importance of embedding values, communication when it comes to infection control and how important a brand is for trusts.
Mark Duman, president of PiF and chairman at the event, said that by bringing trusts together opened up lines of communication in itself.
“A lot of trusts are doing brilliant things in terms of both internal and external communications, and by bringing them together at an event like this, they can share and hopefully learn new methods to implement at their own trust.”
Feedback from the day was positive, with trusts realising that they need to look at new ways to engage with staff and that communication was not just a newsletter. For more information, please get in touch with Ben Peck, benp@mcmc.co.uk.