By Jenny Wallace Some years ago, I was informed that the profession which I had been following was no longer to be known as “teaching”, but “delivering the curriculum”. At first, I hardly took this seriously, especially as I and my colleagues in a successful and well-respected school had always prided ourselves on going far […]
Robert Francis QC – Lessons from Stafford
by Murray Anderson-Wallace Earlier this week I spent the day at the Kings Fund at the first post Francis conference. I suspect there will be many more! Robert Francis QC offered a solid, convincing and unambigious summary account of some key themes from the Inquiry. I think he is a considered and considerate man […]
No Tour T-Shirts …
The web has transformed the way in which we broadcast and consume media. It has made content much more easily accessible to many more people and this undoubtedly is a very, very positive thing. Without it, we couldn’t do our work at all. At PATIENTSTORIES we genuinely want as many people as possible to see […]
Alexandra’s Story
Alexandra died aged 3 days. In this often distressing account of her experience, Beatrix explores the decisions made about her care, and the factors that she feels led to their daughter’s spinal injuries. Watch Film →
Beth’s Story – Comment and Analysis…
We have now launched three new short films which explore the lessons that can be learnt from the tragic and powerful story of Bethany Bowen (as told by Clare Bowen in our film “Beth’s Story“) These films explore a range of issues illustrated by the film with analysis from expert commentators including journalist and broadcaster […]
Gillian’s Story
Gillian James, a former nurse, lived largely independently with progressive multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years. This film documents the care she received during the last sixteen months of her life. Watch Film →
Can we talk about mistakes?
A valuable talk from the great TED resource. We have just begun development on a new sister site, www.doctorsstories.org.uk where we will be working with doctors who want to share their stories and explore the professional, moral and ethical issues issues associated with avoidable harm, raising concerns associated with patient safety and disclosure. We hope […]
NEW – PATIENTSTORIES Guides for Facilitators
PATIENTSTORIES has just produced a range of Facilitator’s Guides to accompany each of our films. These have been designed specifically to complement Beth’s Story, Julie’s Story and Peter’s Story and help those using our films to explore key themes. Each guide suggests formats for facilitated sessions and offers prompter questions to elicit further discussion and […]
Re-Presenting Experience
Last month in collaboration with the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford and with financial support from the Health Foundation, PATIENTSTORIES co-hosted a dinner and one day meeting to share and explore different methods and approaches associated with representing experience. Participants from a wide range of organisations who use creative media in […]
“Beth’s Story” shortlisted for the Medical Journalists Association Winter Awards
PATIENTSTORIES Executive Producer, Murray Anderson-Wallace has been shortlisted for an award from the Medical Journalists Association in the investigative / broadcast category for “Beth’s Story“ This moving and challenging documentary tells the story of the Bowen family following the tragic death of their daughter, Bethany during ‘routine’ surgery. Following the trauma of his daughter’s death […]
Department of Health consultation on contractual duty of candour…
On the 10th October the Department of Health (DH) launched a consultation on the contractual duty of candour. In short the DH is proposing, as part of the new Health and Social Care Bill, that a contractual duty of candour will be placed upon the provider. The consultation asks for views on how to design […]
Mid Staffs Inquiry Seminars
On 9 June 2010 the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, announced a full public inquiry into the role of the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies in the monitoring of Mid Staffordshire Foundation NHS Trust. The Inquiry is established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and is chaired by Robert Francis QC, who will […]
Why PATIENTSTORIES?
Murray Anderson-Wallace Whilst most practitioners, managers and clinicians might accept that the experience of the people that they care for and treat is an important aspect of patient safety improvement, the practices associated with this work are still relatively new and underdeveloped. Engaging patients, relatives and carers in ways that use their knowledge and experience […]
Stories lived, stories told…
PATIENTSTORIES is all about culture change. Whilst most practitioners, managers and clinicians see experiences of patients as an important aspect of patient safety improvement, the practices associated with this work are still relatively new and underdeveloped. Engaging patients, relatives and carers in ways that use their knowledge and experience to directly influence and build the […]
Is an obsession with natural childbirth putting mothers and babies in danger?
By Jane Feinmann There is no doubt that for most women in this country, childbirth remains a safe and happy experience. But it is also true that for too many, it is a highly risky and frankly horrific experience. Stories abound of mothers-to-be left alone in labour, sometimes refused pain relief or surgical intervention, putting […]
Private Eye launches “Whistleblowing” website …
We recently supported the launch of the new Private Eye sponsored website www.medicalharm.org The website features many accounts of those who have tried to raise concerns about standards of care and patient safety but have struggled to be heard. PATIENTSTORIES contributed a written account of Beth’s Story which illustrates the role that assertive patients and […]
Dr Phil Hammond endorses PATIENTSTORIES
“Stories are metaphors for life, they are how we change the world…” Dr Phil Hammond, GP, Comedian and Broadcaster
Care to be a Nurse?
As part of the “Four Thought” series (a collaborative project between the RSA and BBC Radio 4), Columnist for the Independent newspaper, Christina Patterson discusses her own experiences of nursing care. She asks why we keep making excuses for bad nursing when good care is so important, and maintains that whatever the pressures on them […]
The Tales of Two Treatments…
by Phil Hadridge The same hospital One of the very best in the NHS They say Within 3 days Two people Two treatments One involved stitching a gashed chin A running accident The other a rapid assessment with an invasive and non-invasive test What was striking? The quality of the fabric – clean, tidy The […]
Jane Feinmann on the importance of open disclosure…
Telling the truth – how patients’ stories can teach doctors the importance of open disclosure by Jane Feinmann When Clare Bowen’s daughter Bethany died during routine surgery in 2006 aged five years old, the tragedy could hardly have got worse. But it did. Just 19 months later, Clare’s husband, Richard, died of a heart attack […]