Help shape health and care services in Essex
There are many ways to get involved in health and care in Essex and help shape local NHS and care services. People and communities play a central role in how we plan, design and improve services across Essex.
The NHS has a legal duty to involve the public in decisions about services. Therefore, we listen carefully, act on your feedback, and explain how your views influence our work. We also work in partnership with people and communities so that decisions reflect lived experience and local needs.
This approach helps us design services that are fair, inclusive and effective. Whether you want to contribute regularly or share your perspective occasionally, you can choose an option that works for you.
Ways to get involved in health and care in Essex
You can take part in a range of involvement opportunities across Essex. For example, you may wish to join a panel, respond to a survey or attend a public meeting.
Essex Virtual Views – take part in surveys, consultations and discussions through our online engagement platform. In addition, you can see how feedback influences local services.
Email newsletters – subscribe to receive updates about health services, engagement opportunities and wellbeing advice. This helps you stay informed and involved.
Readers’ panel – review draft letters, reports and website content before publication. As a result, you help improve clarity and accessibility.
Public meetings – attend meetings held in public to hear about decisions and understand how services develop. You can also learn more about local priorities.
Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) – join your GP practice’s Patient Participation Group to share feedback and support improvements in primary care services.
Neighbourhood conversations – take part in local discussions about health and wellbeing in your community. These conversations help us understand local priorities.
Lived experience and patient stories – share your experiences so we can improve services and ensure they meet people’s needs.
Voluntary and community sector partnerships – work with us through voluntary, community and faith organisations to help shape services and reach wider communities.
Involvement in your local community
We work with people and communities at neighbourhood, place and Essex-wide level. This includes working with GP practices, local authorities, voluntary organisations and community partners to understand what matters locally and improve services.
This neighbourhood approach helps ensure involvement reflects the experiences of different communities across Essex.
Why get involved in health and care in Essex
Your insight helps us to:
- Design services that reflect local needs and lived experience
- Improve access and reduce health inequalities
- Make informed decisions about priorities and resources
- Ensure services are inclusive and person-centred
- Show clearly how feedback has influenced decisions and improvements
By getting involved, you help shape health and care services for communities across Essex, now and in the future.
Our working with people and communities approach
We set out our commitment to working in partnership with people and communities in our strategy – working with people and communities – a strategic approach (2026–2030).
You can read the full strategy online: [link to HTML version of the strategy]
If you need the strategy in an alternative format, please contact us.