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Make Change Together

Make Change Together

Regional Gender Identity Services

Are you interested in working with Health and Social Care to improve services for those with gender dysphoria? We are recruiting 15 people with lived experience of any aspect of gender dysphoria or variant of gender identity to join the Gender Identity Liaison Panel. The aim is to help review services for people with gender identity issues in order to support service developments. Click here for more information.

Working for Openness in Health and Social Care

Groups are being set up to shape and quality assure Guidance for people who use Health and Social Care Services, on how openness must apply across Health and Social Care. The aim is to make sure that patients, service users and their families and carers experience openness and candour in all their dealings with Health and Social Care; in day to day appointments (Level 1 Group) and when something untoward has happened but harm hasn’t occurred (Level 2 Group). Click here for more information.

The Review of Urgent and Emergency Care

The Department of Health is currently undertaking a Review of Urgent and Emergency Care across Northern Ireland. Under Make Change Together and in partnership with the Public Health Agency and Department of Health, we now have opportunity for the public to help shape thinking in the review. Click here for more information.

NI Cancer Strategy 2020

As part of our 'Make Change Together' project, the Patient and Client Council are offering opportunities for people with lived experience to work on the development of the Cancer Strategy 2020. This is in line with an approach of co-production, giving opportunities to work with the Department of Health to influence the development of the upcoming Cancer Strategy which will be issued for public consultation pending Ministerial approval. Click here to apply.

Register below to join our Membership scheme and become involved with Make Change Together.

We will keep you informed of upcoming opportunities.

After being diagnosed with ME, Joan McParland helped establish the first ever ME clinic in Northern Ireland.

Joan from Bessbrook tells her story.

“I was very fit and active until I woke up one morning with flu-like symptoms – the start of my long ME journey.

My natural instinct was to push on but after three attempts to go back to work, I ended up bed-bound for the next seven years.

During this time, I promised that, if I ever improved enough, I would campaign to address the lack of support available for ME patients who were desperate for help.

Alongside a group of others, we set up a committee and applied for charity status.  In 2013, the chair of our charity attended a meeting with the Patient and Client Council and, from this, a focus group was set up for ME and Fibromyalgia – the first meetings in NI for these diseases.

We were told it would take three years to see change but it took us five.  Even though there were ups and downs, in 2018, a clinic lead was announced for ME to provide a space for sufferers to get dedicated help.

I am so proud of this achievement and I would encourage everyone to make change together.”

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Make Change Together Testimonial Photo
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After becoming unwell and personally experiencing the lack of care provided to those suffering from mental health in Northern Ireland, Paul Greer from Portglenone, decided to speak up.

Here is his story.

“I have a background in care and nursing but when I became ill, I felt the care I received was inadequate.  I felt that I didn’t matter and that made me feel worse.
Going through this experience has helped me find my voice and I decided to speak up for myself and others who are battling with mental health.

Through my work with the Patient and Client Council, I serve on the Bamford Monitoring Group.  This group captures the views of people with mental health needs and learning disabilities and the experiences of families and carers in relation to changes being made to future services.

During my time working with this group we have helped create a care pathway to ensure those with mental health concerns receive the best available treatment, we’ve established a personalised approach to mental health and we’ve also contributed to the planning for adults with a learning disability, ensuring carers and families can put a future plan in place for those in their care.

Being involved has helped me have a voice and fight for those that don’t have a voice.

Stand up and make your voice heard to make change together.”

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