About Us
The Patients Association is an independent charity that highlights the concerns and needs of patients. We work with Government and a broad range of individuals and organisations to develop better, and more responsive, health services.
The Patients Association advocates for greater and more equitable access to high-quality, accurate and independent information for patients. Our aim is to reduce health inequalities by helping patients to be better informed and by campaigning for patients to have the right to be involved in decision-making.
After almost fifty years of hard work, much of it carried out on a very small budget, the Patients Association still has a vital role to play. That role is to help provide patients with the information that is difficult to access; the information that is often hidden away by vested interest but is their legal right to know.
In the campaign to ensure patients are better informed, our range of patient guides and advice booklets help and so does our Helpline, but this is not enough.
Over the coming months and years, we aim to increase the amount of information for patients so that when a choice is offered, patients know what they are choosing and why.
The Patients Association is well placed as an organisation to stand strongly and enable a dialogue between all stakeholders involved in a patient’s care. We work with the people that affect care directly – from the NHS itself to the companies that produce the medical devices it uses, as well as the pharmaceutical industry, the medical insurance companies and private healthcare providers – we believe in coordinating healthcare properly and taking responsibility.
The Patients Association is in a unique position, always challenging, always independent and always there for patients.
The Patients Association Helpline – 0845 608 44 55 – is there to help. This is a local rate number and if a phone provider charges, we are happy to return calls. The Helpline both informs patients and gathers their views. We are of course available online, providing advice, the latest health news, signposting to further information and general advice.
We also have a range of booklets and guides for patients. Especially popular titles include Pain Management: A Guide for Patients, How to Obtain Access to your Medical Records, How to Make a Complaint, You and Your Dentist and How to make a Living Will.
We have also produced a number of research reports including Patients not Numbers, People not Statistics, Your Experience Counts: Patient Experience Survey, All About Health Survey Report and Infection Control: How much do you know and want to know?
Please browse the website for booklets, publications and more information.
The Patients Association's charity number is 1006733.
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