We want to work with people, businesses, councils and elected members across Kent and Medway to create thriving communities that are among the healthiest in England. We want to be known for the quality and safety of our services but also as influential partners in our communities.
To do this, we will strive to have a deep understanding and connection with the people and communities we serve and actively involve them to co-produce and shape improvements to local services.
Online engagement portal
The Have Your Say website lists information about all our engagement projects and gives people a chance to share their views through a mix of surveys, discussion boards, chat forums and other functions.
Please register as a member at Have Your Say
HCP engagement
We will support the four health and care partnerships: Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley; East Kent; Medway/Swale; West Kent, to develop patient groups.
Citizens’ panel
These people will take part in regular surveys on a variety if topics and will be representative of the population of Kent and Medway. There will be a dedicated area on the engagement portal.
Involving Medway/Swale
We will continue with the successful Involving Medway project. It includes community grants, community researchers and time credits for volunteers. We will explore ways to introduce a similar approach in other areas in 2023/24.
Health Network
More than 6,000 people, who have indicated they want to be kept informed about health and care and opportunities, are registered with the network. Join by emailing kmicb.engage@nhs.net
Outreach
We will use data to understand our communities better, forge better relationships with them and work with them to develop ways for them to have their say which work for them. Where people do not speak English, we will work with interpreters to do this. We will also use Easy Read and face-to-face approaches for people with learning disabilities.
More ways we engage
- working with voluntary, community and social enterprises to make sure those people are able to be heard
- our People and Communities Engagement Network brings together engagement and patient experience professionals, Healthwatch, the voluntary sector and non-executives responsible for engagement to work better together across the system
- an Involving People strategy will be launched to hear the voices of local people
- we will continue to support formal public consultations; bring together experts by experience patients and their families; produce a co-production charter and invite residents in the decision-making process
- we will continue to engage with people in their home town at roving roadshows in shopping centres, hospitals, colleagues and schools.