At Psychiatry UK, everything we do begins with one simple principle — listening to you.
Your experiences, ideas, and feedback help us grow stronger and deliver care that truly reflects what patients need.
We’re excited to introduce Elisabeth Hoggard, our Patient Experience, Communication & Advocacy Manager, whose role is all about championing the Patient Voice — ensuring that every voice is heard, valued, and has the power to shape positive change.
A message from Elisabeth
Hello, I’m Elisabeth Hoggard, and I’m proud to lead our work around Patient Experience, Communication and Advocacy here at Psychiatry UK.
Championing the patient voice isn’t just part of my job — it’s something I’m deeply passionate about. Every piece of feedback, every comment, every idea helps us see through your eyes and understand how we can keep improving the care we deliver.
At Psychiatry UK, we all share the same goal: to provide the best possible service for every patient, every time.
What Is the Patient Voice?
The Patient Voice is a growing community that brings together patients, carers and advocates to share insights that help shape the way we work.
It’s all about partnership — making sure that the people who use our services are actively involved in how those services evolve.
That could mean:
- Helping us review a new process.
- Sharing feedback on system changes.
- Testing new IT tools or patient resources.
- Or simply letting us know what’s working well — and what isn’t.
Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us make the Psychiatry UK experience better for everyone.
Who Can Join?
If you’re an active Psychiatry UK patient aged 18 or over living in England, we’d love to hear from you.
We also welcome carers, family members, advocates, and parents (with permission to speak on behalf of a patient). Your perspectives are invaluable and help us see the bigger picture.
How To Get Involved
There are a couple of simple ways to join the Patient Voice:
Option 1: Through Your Patient Portal
- Log in to your Psychiatry UK portal (every active patient has one).
- Go to the Marketing and Research section.
- Look for the Patient Voice option.
- Click Yes to give us permission to contact you about future projects.
- Once opted in, we may reach out by email or phone if a project seems right for you.
- You can opt out any time — there’s never any pressure to take part.
Option 2: If You Don’t See the Option Yet
- We’re still rolling this out, so don’t worry!
- Instead, look for Planning and Research Consent and click Yes.
- Or simply ask your prescriber, consultant, or one of our advisers via live chat — they can help guide you or pass your name on to me directly.
By opting in, you’ll be among the first to hear about new projects, feedback sessions, and opportunities to share your perspective.
Please bear with us as this is still new — we may not contact you straight away, but we’ll be in touch as soon as suitable opportunities arise.
How It Works
The Patient Voice is a voluntary initiative — a safe, supportive space where patients and carers can share constructive feedback on new ideas, projects, or ways of working.
Your insights might be shared through:
- Small group discussions.
- One-to-one conversations.
- Or online consultations with different Psychiatry UK teams.
No personal stories, photos, or videos will ever be shared. Everything takes place in full respect of privacy, data protection, and confidentiality.
Why Your Voice Matters
Your voices help us stay connected to what really matters — your experience.
They help us evolve, deliver better care, and always keep patients at the heart of everything we do.
By joining the Patient Voice, you’ll be helping to build a service that’s more responsive, inclusive, and reflective of real patient needs.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, please do reach out and opt in. We’d love to hear from you.
With warm wishes,
Elisabeth Hoggard
Patient Experience, Communication & Advocacy Manager
Psychiatry UK
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