ABL Health were commissioned by NHS England to conduct patient engagement activities in a variety of secure settings across the UK. This is in line with NHS England’s “Framework for Patient and Public Participation in Health and Justice Commissioning” (2017). We provide commissioners with feedback from service users across the estate about the health services that they receive, and ensure that they have a voice in the design, delivery and procurement of health services.
Within our Patient Engagement Team, we take pride in the diverse range of skills and experiences that our team brings to the table. Our dedicated staff consists of individuals who possess a unique blend of expertise, including both those who have acquired their skills through working in the sector, and those who have valuable lived experience. We believe that this mix of backgrounds and perspectives creates a strong and dynamic team that is well-equipped to address the complex challenges the service users face that we work with on a day to day basis.
Our team is made up of patient engagement experts, substance misuse specialists, former prison officers and probation officers, liaison and diversion staff as well as our consultants who support us with firsthand lived experience.
This diverse composition allows us to provide comprehensive solutions that are not only informed by professional expertise but also deeply resonate with the real-life experiences of our service users.
We firmly believe in the power of patient engagement activities and the transformative benefits it brings. Through our dedicated initiatives, we aim to empower service users by providing them with a platform to voice their needs, concerns, and suggestions. By actively involving patients in their healthcare journey, we foster a sense of ownership and motivation, inspiring them to become active participants in their own well-being. Our patient engagement programmes not only encourage individuals to take control of their health but also cultivate a newfound confidence and resilience.
We believe that when Service Users feel heard and supported, they are better equipped to drive the change they want to see in their lives and in their communities. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, we enable service users to become advocates for their own care, promoting a culture of empowerment, growth, and positive transformation.
Service User involvement in designing and monitoring of health services results in a greater understanding of the challenges of delivery and is evidenced to improve involvement and co-operation.
Within secure settings, ABL Health use both interactive and written means to gather feedback. This includes facilitating focus groups, one-to-one interviews, peer-led forums as well as surveys and expression through artwork to ensure a diverse range of feedback methods. We have contributed Service User voice to regional adult social care reviews, cancer screening pathways, vaccination and immunisation hesitancy, safer discharge, and resettlement support and many more.
ABL Health have seen some fantastic results as part of their work within this service, many changes and improvements have been made directly from prisoners’ recommendations and ideas.
Our engagement covers a wide geography, and we are proud to work across a national footprint.
In 2022 ABL Health were commissioned by NHS England Health and Justice to deliver Patient Engagement in secure settings in the South East of England, a new region for the team! Working within 4 prisons and an Immigration Removal Centre across Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Sussex, ABL Health engage with a wide-range of individuals based at these secure estates. Our work is highly collaborative; working alongside different stakeholders to ensure as many participants are involved as possible. ABL complete group work, as well as 1:1 outreach and adapt the engagement style to suit the need of that particular secure estate.
Feedback about healthcare services is collated from the participants, presented to stakeholders and recommendations used to implement change. Successfully, participants have worked with us to liaise directly with NHS Health and Justice, collaborative reviews into Mental Health Services have been undertaken and participants voices are at the forefront of recommendations identified.
One of the most significant and exciting projects this service has been involved in, is the prisoner involvement in the procurement of healthcare at HMP Wymott and HMP Garth. Within these prisons, the healthcare provider contract was up for tender and ABL Health were asked to support a serving prisoner through the process of being a moderator within the commissioning process.
The staff were able to work with the offender management unit within HMP Kirkham, an open Category D establishment, to identify an individual “J” who would be suitable for this project. Working in partnership with NECS (North of England Commissioning Support), the team were able to provide J with the relevant training he needed to be able to take part. They supported him to independently evaluate all of the provider bids submitted for this procurement, and supported him whilst he spent a week with panel at consensus, discussing all of the bids and being a recognised and respected voice when it came to reaching a consensus on the successful bid.
The key stakeholders reported that J was an excellent addition to the panel and provided an alternative insight, which allowed the stakeholders to consider patient care at the heart of the service. J stated this work made him feel valued, respected and provided him with new, transferable skills that may support him to gain employment. He said this project boosted his confidence and self-esteem and has requested to volunteer with ABL Health following his release.
Following this piece of work ABL Health & partners were awarded the HSJ Partnership award for “Procurement Project of the Year.
