The Health Foundation helps make sure that people campaigning for quality improvement get their voice heard – by policy makers, politicians and the media.
We’re not a think-tank or a research funder. We use our resources to show how improvements in health care can be achieved. We want to focus people’s attention on the need for change.
We use different approaches to raise awareness and influence others to keep quality and safety at the heart of healthcare. We do this:
- through the media by raising awareness for the need for change as well as to share examples of what works.
- by targeting policy makers and politicians, and lobbying for policy to focus on quality and safety.
We have adopted a number of principles that underpin our approach to campaigning:
- We use the direct experiences of patients and staff working in healthcare to identify both the issues of concern and possible solutions.
- We demonstrate that change is possible. We invite policy makers to meet those involved in quality improvement programmes and gain an understanding first-hand of what can be achieved.
- We share our knowledge. We make public the findings of evaluations and research evidence.
- We work with others – across the UK and internationally who share our goal. We support the growing movement of those working to improve quality of healthcare and know that we cannot do it alone, nor have all the answers.
- We talk to everyone. The Health Foundation is independent of any government, political party or other interest groups. Our funding comes from a charitable endowment which enables us to spend at least £20 million a year and gives us a unique position from which to campaign for better healthcare.
- We’re in it for the long term. The Health Foundation is a new organisation, and we know that improvements in the quality of care that patients receive won’t be achieved overnight. We also know that we need to work with others to bring about real change that lasts.
Want to get involved?
- Share your views – tell us about your experiences.
- Help raise expectations about what quality care should look like.
- Ask questions about the delivery of quality of care – how do you identify the best quality of care?
We believe that the ways in which healthcare can be improved is not well understood. We want to raise awareness about quality improvement approaches and the results that can be achieved. We are campaigning for change.
