It is part of the User-centred Healthcare Design (UCHD) research group investigating how design methodologies and ‘design thinking’ can be used to create health care services closer aligned with people’s needs, and which support self-management of their own health.
Co-design events
At the heart of the project were a series of events which brought together researchers with both healthcare providers (eg nurses, clerical staff, patient transport) and healthcare users (eg patients, carers, and voluntary services).
At separate events the groups had an opportunity to talk about their issues through a storytelling process, then they were brought together to share their experiences. Emerging from this were areas for potential improvement and the participants split into mixed groups to further explore and recommend improvements through a series of co-design events.
Multimedia documentation
Throughout this process I documented many of the events using video and stills. This material was of immediate use to the project team for use in presentations disseminating the research. In addition I have produced a DVD for training purposes for NHS staff and management to provide insight into the experiences of older people when accessing hospital services.
