Patient Experience Week: Sight Loss Councils lead NHS accessibility engagement across the Midlands
Earlier this month, Sight Loss Councils across the Midlands helped shape how blind and partially sighted people experience healthcare as part of Patient Experience Week.
For the first time, Sight Loss Councils (SLC) in East and West Midlands came together in partnership with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB). Together, they hosted a series of patient experience stalls at hospitals across the region, led by volunteers with lived experience of sight loss. These events opened up conversations with patients, visitors and NHS staff about what accessible healthcare looks like in practice.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward. It brings neighbouring regions together with an NHS trust to share insight, raise awareness, and drive change at scale.
This activity forms part of Thomas Pocklington Trust’s, ‘Make Health Accessible’ campaign, which calls for blind and partially sighted (BPS) people to receive health information and care in accessible formats. Through this work, SLCs help healthcare providers better understand the barriers people face and identify practical ways to improve accessibility and inclusion.
Despite legal requirements under the Accessible Information Standard, many BPS people still face challenges understanding their care or managing their health independently. SLCs work with communities and frontline services to help make accessibility a fundamental part of patient care.
Vicki, Matron at Queens Hospital, Burton, PJ, SLC Coordinator for West Midlands, and Dannie, Derbyshire SLC member.
Patient Experience Week hospital engagement
During Patient Experience Week, volunteers from Staffordshire and Derbyshire Sight Loss Councils visited Royal Derby Hospital, Queens Hospital Burton, County Hospital Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital. They spoke with patients, visitors and NHS staff to highlight the barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people, while highlighting practical ways to make healthcare more accessible and inclusive.
Reflecting on the week, Louise Connop, Senior Engagement Manager, South, said:
“It has been fantastic to work across the region with different NHS Trusts and at multiple hospital sites. We are genuinely thankful for the teams we collaborate with across the trusts, who continually engage with us, listen to feedback, and explore new ideas to further improve the services they provide to BPS patients.
“This work is incredibly important, not only to ensure clinical and non‑clinical staff feel confident in supporting patients, but also to help challenge the misconceptions that the public often hold about blind and partially sighted people.
“It was brilliant to work with SLCs across both the East and West Midlands who shared best practice, top tips, and had opportunities to discuss future project work that will help us continue our #MakeHealthAccessible mission into 2026 and beyond. The commitment and enthusiasm shown this week reinforces just how much we can achieve when we work together.”
The engagement also gave hospital teams an opportunity to explore how small changes can make a significant difference to patient experience.
Madeleine Roche, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Co-ordinator, added:
“This week has been truly eye‑opening, seeing how even small changes can make a huge positive difference to a patient’s experience really reinforces why this work matters.
“It was fantastic to speak with colleagues from so many departments across multiple hospital sites, all of whom were incredibly receptive and engaging. Their enthusiasm and ideas for how the Sight Loss Council can collaborate with their teams to raise awareness and improve the experience of blind and partially sighted people were inspiring. The energy and commitment shown throughout Patient Experience Week has been a real reminder of the impact we can make when we work together.”
Klaudia and Geoff, Staffordshire SLC members, pictured with Madeleine Roche, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Co-ordinator, at University Hospital, North Midlands
For SLC volunteers, the week also created opportunities to raise awareness through direct conversations with the public and NHS staff.
Klaudia, Staffordshire SLC member, said:
“Being at the hospital gave us a great opportunity to engage with patients, visitors and staff, and raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people. It’s always valuable to build that understanding – whether at an information stand or through everyday conversations.”
Dannie, Derbyshire SLC member, added:
“It was a pleasure to interact with patients to discuss Patient Experience Week and raise awareness of different eye conditions. Our accessible healthcare work is so important, because until people truly understand our challenges, how can things change?”
Following Patient Experience Week, the feedback gathered will help inform future work to improve accessibility and patient experience across UHDB Trust. SLCs will continue to work with staff to strengthen understanding of accessible healthcare – from volunteers and frontline staff, to leadership and board level.
Selfie of Derbyshire SLC members, Helen and Dannie, during Patient Experience Week
Passionate about making a difference for blind and partially sighted people?
Want to influence positive change in your community? Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, are recruiting new members across the UK.
Our volunteers use their lived experience to create positive change for others. Together, we tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
See where we’re currently recruiting and how you can get involved.
Stay in the know
Do you want to get involved in our national campaigns? Stay up to date with news from Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust – sign up to our mailing list.
Publication date: 15 May 2026