Side-by-Side
The Side-by-Side Network is a growing community of people with lived experience, including patients, carers, and community members, who work alongside our teams to help improve care, services, and research.
This isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about working together as equals - listening, learning, and creating change side by side.
Want to Get Involved?
Ready to join Side-by-Side Network? Whether you are a patient, carer or someone passionate about improving healthcare, your contribution matters.
If you would like to make an enquiry or get involved with Side-by-Side, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at hiowh.academy@nhs.net.
What to expect?
No special skills are needed, just your perspective and willingness to share. We believe that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their background or expertise.
A warm welcome
From the moment you arrive, you’re welcomed with genuine warmth and respect every experience matters here.
Flexible involvement
Join in your way, on your time. Whether it’s in person, online, or at your own pace, you choose what works best for you.
Support and training
We’re with you every step of the way offering training, guidance, and a listening ear whenever you need it. Our goal is simple: to help you feel confident and supported.
Real impact
Your voice drives real change. By getting involved, you’re helping shape projects that make a genuine difference in people’s lives.
Side-by-Side
The Side-by-Side Network is a growing community of people with lived experience, including patients, carers, and community members, who work alongside our teams to help improve care, services, and research.
This isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about working together as equals - listening, learning, and creating change side by side.
Taking part in research:
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Influencing research questions and procedures
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Working alongside researchers and clinical coworkers
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Shaping how we share research findings
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Gaining feedback on research projects
Participating in service improvement:
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Providing services with ideas for improvement
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Being part of a service Quality Improvement (QI) team
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Providing the 'patients' point-of-view' in QI projects
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Developing QI skills and knowledge to help inform projects
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Supporting other Side-by-Side members with being involved in QI projects
Helping to inform Clinical Effectiveness:
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Using experiences to provide services with ideas for audits and evaluations
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Offering constructive criticism and providing a patient view at the annual audit planning
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Helping services to share their evaluations and the impact of change in an accessible, patient friendly way
Influencing strategy:
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Reviewing and setting Side-by-Side’s annual objectives
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Providing practical support to the Academy
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Being part of interview panels for recruiting new staff
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Becoming an ambassador for conferences and events
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Volunteering to support at Academy events
Shaping how we communicate:
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Helping to develop and evolve how we share information
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Sharing resources, supporting and learning with other Side-by-Side network members
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Advocating to make information patient and public friendly
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Capturing and sharing your experiences
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Helping to develop newsletters, websites and leaflets