Digital patient panel
Patient and public involvement
- Overview
- Patient and Public Engagement Strategy to 2030
- Current page section : Digital patient panel
We're looking for patients, family members and carers who are interested in helping us to improve the digital health services we offer.
Members of our digital patient panel will provide us with vital feedback and input on the digital healthcare tools and applications we use. We want to hear your views on a range of digital health services, such as:
- how we use and communicate with patients through MyChart, our patient app and website
- how we communicate with patients through text messages or digital letters
- how we design and improve other digital tools to help patients manage their healthcare
What does joining the panel involve?
Members of our digital patient panel will join meetings with our staff to share their views and feedback about digital technology in healthcare, and to test out new technologies or features.
This will include 2 sessions for patient panel member feedback a year, and other opportunities that will be shared with the panel by regular email bulletins. These activities may include design workshops, online discussion boards, usability testing sessions, and surveys.
It does not matter how confident you are with digital technology. We're keen to hear from people with all levels of digital confidence.
Benefits of joining the panel
- Career and educational development: you’ll learn about and take part in digital design processes.
- Updates on impact: we’ll share updates on how your involvement has made a difference.
- Reimbursement of expenses: we reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses.
- Support to take part: we’ll ask if you need any additional support to get involved.
- Flexible participation: you can get involved as much or as little as you want. There will be a mix of online and face-to-face options.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you're aged 16 or over, and you've been a patient, or a relative or carer of a patient, at one of our hospitals within the last 5 years.
This includes accessing services at one or more of the following:
- Guy’s Hospital
- St Thomas’ Hospital
- Royal Brompton Hospital
- Harefield Hospital
- Evelina London Children’s Hospital
- King's College Hospital
- Princess Royal University Hospital
- Beckenham Beacon
- Orpington Hospital
- Queen Mary's Hospital
- community services and sexual health services
Applicants between the ages of 16 and 18 will need written permission from a parent, guardian or carer to take part.
We're particularly keen to hear the views of those:
- 75 or over
- who have English as an additional language
- who have disabilities, and their carers
Roles you can apply for
We have 2 roles available: patient influencer and lead patient influencer. Lead patient influencers will commit more time, offer more experience leading or managing people, and have a greater understanding or interest of digital technology in healthcare. Please see the role descriptions for more detailed information.
As patient influencer, we'll ask you to commit half a day each month to:
- complete 1 survey (5 to 10 minutes)
- attend 1 workshop (1 to 2.5 hours plus breaks)
- take part in other patient panel events (1 to 1.5 hours)
We'll give you all the information you need in each activity, but we can send information to you ahead of time if that is helpful.
What you'll do
As part of the patient influencer role, you will need to:
- apply to take part in digital patient panel activities when possible
- represent your own views or the views of those you know or care for
- where appropriate, prepare for engagement activities by reading any relevant information provided
- be willing to undertake appropriate training, development and support activities that are offered
Your experience
Patient influencers will have some interest or experience in using digital technology for healthcare. They will also be able to:
- bring a patient, parent or carer perspective to discussions and decision making
- collaborate effectively as a member of a team
- be objective, fair and transparent in the process of assessing options
- voice opinions constructively and share views clearly
Download the full role description
As patient influencer, we'll ask you to commit 1.5 days each month to:
- complete 1 survey (5 to 10 minutes)
- attend 1 workshop (1 to 2.5 hours plus breaks)
- prepare and present at a patient feedback session (30 minutes to 1 hour)
- take part in other patient panel events (1 to 1.5 hours)
Lead patient influencers will also attend patient feedback sessions to act as a representative of the wider patient panel and report on findings. You may be required to read papers and prepare for these events ahead of time.
We'll give you all the information you need in each activity, but we can send information to you ahead of time if that is helpful.
What you'll do
As part of the patient influencer role, you will need to:
- apply to take part in digital patient panel activities when possible
- prepare for patient feedback sessions – this will include reading reports of activities you have taken part in
- present and have discussions about report findings with Trust staff
- represent your own views and the views of the wider digital patient panel in patient feedback sessions
- where appropriate, prepare for engagement activities or patient feedback sessions by reading any relevant information provided
- be willing to undertake appropriate training, development and support activities that are offered
Your experience
In addition to what we ask of all digital patient panel members, lead patient influencers will also:
- have some understanding and interest in how digital technology can be used in healthcare
- have experience in leadership or chairing meetings
- have experience managing groups of people, either at work, school, or in their local community
They will be able to:
- bring a patient, parent or carer perspective to discussions and decision making
- lead a group using common sense and diplomacy
- articulate issues and escalate these to the owner of the digital patient panel
- be objective, fair and transparent in the process of assessing options
- voice opinions constructively and present views clearly
- communicate effectively with strong interpersonal skills
Extra support
In addition to the support we offer all digital patient panel members, as a lead patient influencer, we can also:
- help you to facilitate discussions
- support you to lead or act as chair in discussions
- help you to prepare for patient feedback sessions
- answer any of your questions ahead of meetings and workshops
Download the full role description
How we'll support you
- Different opportunities for involvement: we'll contact you with available opportunities. You can tell us which you'd like to take part in.
- Flexible participation: you can get involved as much or as little as you want. There will be a mix of online and face-to-face options.
- Updates on impact: we'll provide updates on how your involvement has made a difference.
- Career and educational development: you'll get a chance to learn about and take part in digital design processes.
- Reimbursement of expenses: we reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses in line with our organisation's policy.
- Support to take part: we'll ask you if there is any additional support you need to get involved
If there is something else you need, please tell us on your application form and we'll do our best to help.
Reimbursement and rewards
Depending on the type of activity you take part in, you also may be reimbursed and rewarded in one or more of the following ways:
- public and other types of transport reimbursement
- childcare reimbursement
- paid carer reimbursement
- internet data add-on reimbursement
- monetary payment
- Foundation Trust membership
- job and education references
If you are successful in applying to take part in a particular activity, we'll then let you know which types you can claim for. All reimbursement and reward will be in alignment with Guy’s and St Thomas’ policy.
Contact us
To find out more information or for assistance with your application, please contact Laura James, Patient and Public Engagement Specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Email [email protected] or phone 07824 364 480
Apply now
To apply for the digital patient panel, fill in the application form.
Please check you meet the criteria first.