Next week Patient Opinion will be 9 years old.
Yes, Miriam (the first employee) and I (not then drawing a salary) incorporated the company on 11 January 2005. And my, what a great journey it’s been – a privilege to be working with so many patients and carers across the NHS who want the NHS to be better. And so many great staff who want to hear and to listen.
Best of all perhaps, we have been one of the few companies working right at the leading edge of where the web meets better public services. We have helped shape the debate about the role of public feedback in healthcare, and along the way done a whole range of other stuff like supporting Mike Greco and our colleagues launch Patient Opinion Australia down under.
Bad things turned out to have big upsides and the things I thought were going to be transformative all too often turned out to be damp squibs. In short never a dull moment.
And most important of all we have done it with such a great team that embodies the passion, innovation and commitment that lies at the heart of the company.
But now it’s time to move on. James is going to be CEO (and will, I am sure, be blogging here about his big ideas!) while I become chair of the board.
So what will I be doing in my 3.5 days per week as chair? Well, supporting James as he takes Patient Opinion in new directions. Since I now live in London, I will still do a lot of the national policy and stakeholder work, much of which is just impossible to do without spending a lot of time in London.
But I also want to spend a bit less time on the road and a bit more time thinking and writing. And looking after the grandchildren.
We have been planning this change with the team at Patient Opinion for a year now, so hopefully to outside eyes it will look smooth and seamless. But if you have any questions about what this means, who does what, or who you should contact about something, then just ask us.
Feel free to post a question or comment in the responses below, or drop us a line at info@patientopinion.org.uk.
We're changing the guard at Patient Opinion
We're changing the guard at Patient Opinion https://patientopinion.blob.core.windows.net/profile-pictures/953c3114-eec8-45a7-b334-2c12be6f7553.jpeg Care Opinion 0114 281 6256 https://www.careopinion.org.uk /content/uk/logos/co-header-logo-2020-default.pngChange from Care Opinion
Posted by Paul Hodgkin, Chair, Patient Opinion, on
Response from James Munro, Chief executive, Care Opinion on 2 Jan 2014 at 14:04
Hi Paul
You’re going to be a hard act to follow!
It’s been an amazing roller-coaster ride working on Patient Opinion with you since the very beginning. We’ve learned so much – and perhaps if we’d known then what we know now, we’d never have set out on this journey together. So it is a very good thing that we didn’t know.
I’m excited to be taking over the helm just now. We’ve come such a long way since those early days, and yet we know there is still far to go, in taking the voices of patient and carer directly into the heart of health and social care. Luckily, we’re still buzzing with ideas on how to use the power of the web to help us do that.
As you say, we have an amazing team, and an online platform which – literally – improves every week. And, crucially, there are now thousands of staff members across the UK who receive and respond to stories posted on Patient Opinion and Care Opinion.
What needs to happen next? I think the priorities will be transparency, staff involvement, and demonstrable impact. We need to show people that they really can, and do, make a difference. In some places that’s already very obvious, but in others – not so much.
So lots of ideas, lots to learn, and lots to do. I’ll be blogging about some of our plans over coming weeks. Wish me luck!
James
Response from Jennie Negus, Head of Patient Experience, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust on 3 Jan 2014 at 19:12
Wow - big changes at PO;
Paul you have been an inspiration; its's been an honour to work with you and be a part of the PO experience, thank you for all you have done in supporting me and the ULHT journey. Enjoy your new adventures!
James - congratulations!! I always enjoyed name dropping with Paul, saying "I know Paul the PO CEO" - now I can add the fact that I not only know the PO CEO but have eaten his home made cakes! Looking forward to an exciting 2014
Response from James Munro, Chief executive, Care Opinion on 5 Jan 2014 at 17:54
Thanks Jennie - I'm hoping we'll provide both cakes and inspiration for 2014!