How are patients, service users and carers using the web to change their lives?

That was the theme of a conference held at the Deaf Cultural Centre in Birmingham.

It was organised by Patient Opinion, an organisation which uses the power of the web to help patients to share their experiences and give feedback directly to the NHS online.

The conference was titled 'Out of the Box' to reflect Patient Opinion's goal of encouraging people to share ideas on how to use the web to connect, encourage and inspire people as opposed putting people with a condition 'in a box' unconnected to others.

NHS local’s Dr Dawn Harper joined patients, carers, NHS staff and innovators with digital technology for a day of activities and discussions about how the web can help to break down barriers between patients and those who care for them.

During the day attendees were given a chance to have their say by getting on a soap box.

Christine Ransome-Wallis from the Birmingham Carers Association made a plea for carers’ and patients’ views to be heard more often when deciding on the best treatment for elderly patients.

They were also given a clever solution to help deaf people communicate with their GP.

Related links

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• Find out more about Patient Opinion
• Carer? Get more information from the Birmingham Carers Association
• Help for deaf people to communicate with the health service
• Find out about the organisation helping to raise awareness of mental health issues

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