UK charities launch NHS collaboration manifesto in parliament

MPs from around the country today showed their support for the charity sector by attending the parliamentary launch of “Recipes for Success”, a book which shares the experiences of 14 charities who have worked with the NHS to improve services for patients. The book aims to help other charities who are considering similar partnerships.

The launch was hosted by Anthony Nolan, who recently collaborated with NHS Blood and Transplant in order to align their two bone marrow registers. The aligned registry has allowed Anthony Nolan to find more matches for blood cancer patients more quickly, reducing patient waiting time. The project also allowed the two organisations to secure government funding from a joint bid.

Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said, “The whole voluntary sector should be proud of the achievements made by these charity and NHS partnerships in providing high quality services or care to patients. We hope our book encourages many more to embark on an NHS partnership and show how voluntary sector expertise can help revolutionise patient care, just as these charities have.”

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, who has supported Anthony Nolan since his son Max was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2007, said, “What I really like about ‘Recipes for Success’ is that, in addition to showing how successful collaboration between the public and third sectors can be, it also paves the way for other charities to embark on their own partnerships to help improve patients’ lives.”

“Recipes for Success” also features partnerships with Action for Deafness, Addaction, Beat, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, DEBRA, Epilepsy Action, Helen’s Trust, Little Princess Trust, Meningitis Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association, National Childbirth Trust, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Theodora Children’s Trust. The book will be distributed to charities, MPs, Ministers and civil servants to demonstrate successful partnerships between the NHS and voluntary sector so far, to help facilitate similar partnerships in the future.