1. Faculty of Medicine and Health
  2. School of Medicine
  3. Groups and institutes
  4. Leeds Institute of Medical Education
  5. Patient Carer Community

Patient Carer Community

Who are we?

Who are we and what do we do? 

Today’s patient-centred care sees patient and carer involvement at the core of medical education. Building on 20 years of patient involvement at the Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME), the Patient | Carer Community (PCC) was established in 2011, although relatively new its impact on medical education is significant – with a community of over 200 patients, carers and family members bringing their experience and knowledge to help educate the doctors of tomorrow. 

At present, the PCC is involved in activities across all five years of the medical curriculum which welcomes around 270 undergraduates each year. The PCC is involved in teaching communications skills, open days, widening participation, and admission through to the final year exams. It also works hard to develop relationships across the School of Medicine to create new opportunities for patient and carer involvement so that medical education continues to focus on ‘person first, patient second’.  

Joining the PCC is not just about involvement activities, it is also about becoming a member of a community. We offer a series of optional and informal social gatherings throughout the year because we believe a sense of belonging and ownership enhances the work of the PCC. The PCC is growing and we always welcome new members, see below.

Background to the PCC 

The Patient | Carer Community (PCC) was previously known as Patients as Educators Leeds and the Patient Voice Group, and was developed by the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team with support and input from a small group of pre-existing members. 

In 2011, the team successfully applied for funding from the Health Foundation (HF) to help develop the community. They met regularly with the patient and carer volunteers and experts from the HF to create an identity for the PCC. A vision statement was developed as well as a formal application pack, policy documents, and guidance for new members.

Find out more about us and what we do by reading a selection of our members' case studies.

Contact us

We welcome new members. If you would like to find out more about the PCC and how to become a member, please contact us. We are happy to have a chat or send more information to you.