Patient Advocacy & Support

Patient advocacy and support involves helping individuals with healthcare services, how they can assert their rights and help make formal decisions through professional advocates, support groups or patient liaison services.  They can help with communication, understanding care options and making sure your views are heard.

Individual patient advocates:

These individuals help patients communicate with healthcare providers, understand their rights and make decisions about their care.  They can attend meetings, write letters and help patients get support for things like appointments and social services.

Advocacy groups:

These organisations are often condition specific and provide a supportive community for patients and families.  They offer information, raise awareness and advocate for research and policy changes.

Patient Liaison Service (PALS):

Many hospitals have services like the patient advice and liaison service that offer confidential advice and a point of contact for patients, families and carers.

Support services:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/patient-advice-and-liaison-services-pals/ or the Patients Association https://www.patients-association.org.uk/ provide helplines, information and support for navigating the health and social care systems.

How to get support –

For individual advocacy:

You can contact your local council’s social services to ask about available advocacy services.  Charities like POhWER https://www.pohwer.net/ The Advocacy People  https://www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/ or VoiceAbility https://www.voiceability.org/ also offer support.

For hospital-related issues:

In the UK you can find the PALS service at your local hospital.

For general advice and information:

You can call the free helpline for The Patients Association on 0800 345 7115 Monday – Friday 09:30-17:00

For specific conditions:

Look for patient advocacy groups related to your specific condition.  These can be found through online searches or by asking your healthcare provider