Welcome to Co-Production Week 2024 – a national awareness campaign highlighting the importance of co-creating in equal partnership with everyone who uses health services.
Our Trust is committed to supporting people to live their best lives, which means putting them front and centre of their care.
This week we will be highlighting the power of co-production – or co-creation as we call it – to help spread the word on we can all help design and develop better services for the future.
“Change starts with a conversation,” said Liam Corbally, head of co-creation. “We want to ensure that people in our care have a voice and choice over their well-being and care.”
Amazing projects underway at our Trust
A wide range of co-created projects are currently underway at TEWV, with patients, carers and service users at the centre of policy changes, appointment decisions and service developments.
Other key co-created projects over the past few months have included:
- The publication of Ridgeway’s Writings – a collection of poetry, stories and artwork produced by patients, staff and carers at our Middlesbrough secure inpatient service.
- A study by involvement members into barriers to care. This has resulted in the launch of a Trust-wide initiative to tackle health inequalities.
- Specialist workshops held with involvement members to co-create strategies to enhance engagement experiences, training options and support methods.
“Co-creation is so much more than a word. It is a deeply embedded culture where everyone’s input is valued and we come together as equal partners to create a organisation that is the best it can be,” said Jackie, a long-time involvement member.
“It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But of course it is a journey that takes effort, belief and commitment. Where fully embraced, co-creation can have huge benefits for the Trust.
“But we mustn’t underestimate the benefits it can also have for our service users. To be listened to, valued and involved can have a massive impact on self-esteem and play a huge part in recovery.”
Leading the way
In 2022 our Trust became one of the first in the country to start the recruitment of its own lived experience directors, with the appointments of Chris Morton and Charles Nosiri soon following.
Projects to expand lived experience roles and co-create proposals “from the first” have continued to grow since then, with a new staff co-creation network due to launch soon.
“Co-creation should be at the heart of everything we do. It can help empower patients, increase the quality and efficiency of services and improve clinical outcomes,” said Chris.
Charles added: “We want to nurture and grow patient and carer involvement across our Trust and are working on some great plans for the future. This is a very exciting time.”
Co-creation celebrations
This week, to mark Co-Production Week, we will be featuring on our website and socials some of the amazing co-creation work taking place across the Trust.
If you would like to get involved in co-creation, as an involvement member or Trust colleague, please contact [email protected] for more details.
“Where does co-creation start? It starts in working with people – patients and carers. Listen to people, involve them and work with them,” said chief executive Brent Kilmurray. “We are committed to doing all we can in supporting people to live their best lives.”
