Patient councils driving improvements in inpatient mental health care

Patients are helping to drive improvements to inpatient mental health care across Kent and Medway through patient councils, where their ideas are leading to changes that are improving care, ward environments and recovery.

Patient councils meet regularly across Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s acute and forensic inpatient services, giving patients a dedicated opportunity to share their experiences, raise concerns and suggest improvements. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, patients help shape decisions about their care, treatment and ward environment.

The councils are a key part of the trust’s commitment to co-production. Feedback from each meeting is reviewed by ward teams and, where changes can be made, they are put into action and shared through a clear ‘You said, we did’ approach.

Patient feedback has already led to improvements including better access to therapeutic and vocational activities, clearer patient information, improved communication between patients and staff, enhancements to ward environments and changes that make everyday life on the ward more supportive and recovery focused.

Clare Hardwick, Head of Allied Health Professionals at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “Patient councils are giving people a genuine opportunity to influence the care they receive and the environment they are recovering in. They are helping us understand what matters most to patients and ensuring their ideas lead to meaningful improvements.

“The councils also help patients build confidence and self-advocacy skills while giving our teams valuable insight into their experiences. Every improvement, whether large or small, helps us provide safer, more responsive and more recovery-focused care.”

The councils are also helping to strengthen relationships between patients and trust colleagues. By encouraging open conversations and shared decision making, they give patients the confidence to speak up and show that their feedback can make a real difference.

Patients have shared the importance of feeling heard, involved and updated when changes are being made to services. Feedback highlighted that meaningful involvement can help people feel their views are valued and that they can contribute to improvements that benefit both current and future patients.

Patient councils are now an established part of inpatient care across the trust, ensuring patients remain at the heart of service improvement. By working together, patients and colleagues are creating safer, more responsive and more recovery focused services for everyone.