Co-production for improvement
Working together, from start to finish
Co-production is about doing things with people, not to or for them. It means involving people with lived experience - patients, carers, service users, and frontline staff - right from the beginning of a project, and throughout every stage of the work. It’s a shift in mindset, from consultation to collaboration.
What is Co-production, and why does it matter?
At the Academy of Research and Improvement, co-production is at the heart of how we work. Whether it's shaping a research study, designing a new service, or evaluating what’s working, we believe the best outcomes come when people bring their different kinds of knowledge together; clinical, professional, personal, and lived.
Why Co-production matters:
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It leads to better, more relevant research and improvement work.
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It builds trust and stronger relationships between communities and services.
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It values everyone’s expertise equally.
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It helps create solutions that are more likely to be used and sustained.
What Co-production looks like in practice can take many forms:
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Involving people in identifying priorities and ideas
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Co-designing methods, materials, or tools
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Co-delivering training, workshops or events
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Jointly analysing findings and making sense of what they mean
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Sharing learning and impact together
We support teams across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to embed co-production in their work, with practical advice, facilitation, and access to people and communities who want to be involved.
I wanted to let you know how much the Quality Improvement and Co-production training and resources have helped me with my confidence and empowered me in my role.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
I have learnt so much. I am now always thinking about how we involve service users, particularly when we are developing or evaluating services. It’s surprised me and challenged my thinking – and I am sure we are delivering better services because of it.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
I am continuously enlightened by the people and patients who have been involved in the project and on hearing their experiences.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
Real Feedback, Real Impact
Hear directly from colleagues who have completed the course. Their experiences, insights, and the impact it’s had on their work.
Blog
Side-by-Side approach to continuous improvement celebrated in national awards
Solent NHS Trust’s Side-by-Side network and Academy teams have won a national Clinical Audit Heroes award for championing meaningful patient involvement in improvement.
Blog
Patients: A Driving Force for Change
Meet Side-by-Side members leading a patient-driven quality improvement project to boost diversity, inclusion, and meaningful involvement in healthcare services.
