Patient Partnership Week 2026

Putting what matters to you at the heart of care 

Patient Partnership Week is a moment to focus on a simple but powerful truth: healthcare works best when patients are treated as partners. 

Across the week, we’re bringing together patients, professionals, policymakers, and researchers to explore what meaningful partnership looks like in practice and why it matters, where progress is being made, and what still needs to change. 

Together we’ll explore how asking “What matters to you?” can reshape care at every level. From tackling health inequalities and rebuilding trust with communities, to making shared decision-making a reality in everyday clinical practice. We’ll look at how patients’ voices can meaningfully influence the design and delivery of services, how commitments to greater choice and involvement are being turned into practice, and how patient experiences are shaping the future of digital care. We’ll also examine the responsible use of health data and the growing role of AI, and what it takes to ensure innovation strengthens trust rather than undermines it. These conversations point to a clear goal: a health system where care is consistently guided by what matters most to patients, not just what is the matter with them. 


Patient Partnership Week 2026 webinars 

Understanding the causes of health inequalities and the role of trust in improving outcomes
29th June 2026, 3:45 - 4:45pm
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Unlocking patient engagement with the People and Communities guidelines
30th June 2026, 9 - 10am
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Do patients’ goals, values, and preferences really shape their care?
30th June 2026, 4 - 5pm
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Power to the people? The 10 Year Health Plan, one year on
1st July 2026, 11am - 12pm
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The Role of NHS Online: building a service patients can be confident in
1st July 2026, 4pm - 5pm
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Why prioritising patient trust increases the value of using technology and data to improve research and care
2nd July 2026, 12:30 - 1:30pm
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Equity in access: tackling barriers to treatment and care
3rd July 2026, 10 - 11am
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Getting through: fixing how NHS communicates with patients
3rd July 2026, 2 - 3pm
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Why this matters now 

Health and care systems are under pressure, and inequalities in access, experience and outcomes persist. At the same time, there are growing opportunities, from digital innovation to new models of care, to do things differently. 

Patient partnership is key to getting this right. 

Whether it’s shaping services, improving communication, using data responsibly, or ensuring care reflects individual values and preferences, partnership helps build a system that people can trust and that works better for everyone. 


Patient Partnership Week 2026 sponsors

A huge thank you to our event sponsors, as without their support we would not be able to put on our free webinars. While these sponsors have contributed to its development, the Patients Association maintains full editorial independence and final approval over all content.
Abbott Novartis AstraZeneca
Flatiron

About the Patients Association 

The Patients Association is an independent patient charity campaigning for improvements in health and social care for patients. 

Uniquely for a charity with a remit covering all health and care issues, we work with patients directly: they are our members and supporters, and the people who benefit from our help and information services. Through our helpline we provide information to thousands of people each year about the health and social care system. 

Our purpose is to ensure that everybody can access and benefit from the health and care they need to live well, by ensuring that services are designed and delivered through equal partnership with patients. 

Membership of the Patients Association is open to anyone interested in health and social care. If that’s you, we’d love you to be a part of our growing community - Join us today. 

Our helpline is free and available to anyone with a question about their care or that of a loved one. You can contact our helpline advisers by email or phone (details below).