Healthcare Charities: Providing The Human Element

Here in the UK, our healthcare professionals do an incredible job offering a range of services in very demanding and often restrictive circumstances. Consequently, this often results in limited time spent with patients which can leave them with a multitude of unanswered questions and a lack of clarity about what is happening to them. This can leave patients feeling isolated and frightened.

We regularly work with health charities. We’ve had conversations with people with a long term or acute health condition, we’ve also spoken with the family and carers who support them. We’ve spoken to commissioners who are doing their very best to ensure service provision meets needs and to healthcare professionals who are delivering medical and support services.

Through these varied conversations we have identified a series of themes which highlight the additional support charities provide that go beyond the medical support. Healthcare charities support the human elements which are essential to service our inner soul, giving us the best platform for improvements in our health and enabling us to get through difficult times. This includes:

CONNECTIVITY: The chance to meet others who are experiencing the same issues can be hugely beneficial for those living with a health condition. The ability to speak openly and honestly with those who really understand and without being judged is welcomed with open arms. The unspoken understanding between people going through a similar experience is immeasurable.

TIME: With increasing requests for medical treatment pre COVID-19, in a climate of limited resources, it’s no surprise that the demands of delivering care during the pandemic have led to backlogs and longer waiting times. Healthcare professionals are under a lot of pressure to see many patients. As a patient, time with professionals is limited and we don’t always get the opportunity to ask all the questions we have, digest the answer, and follow up. Charities offer time, one of life’s most precious commodities.

INCLUSIVITY: Charities offer a rare safe space where people can be themselves without being judged. This safe space encourages people to open up and ask questions without the fear of being judged or being deemed ‘silly’. Most importantly they can expect to receive a response using language they can understand.

HOPE: Living with a health condition can be an emotional rollercoaster with good days and bad days.   Hearing about developments, service improvements, new treatments, or the positive stories of others that are related specifically to what you are experiencing your condition, can provide a much-needed boost in times of need.

It appears we are not the only ones recognising the key role of health charities. The Health Foundation believe charities are the gateway to communities, which is something we agree with wholeheartedly.

In summary, health charities offer that supportive, safe environment which reaches the inner core of what it means to be human and is crucially important for anyone living with a health condition.

If you work for a charity and think market research would benefit your organisation, please do get in touch, we would be happy to talk through the ways in which we might be able to help. In the meantime, thank you for the wonderful work that you do.