Launch conference

The project's launch conference was held on 22 March 2007. It brought together representatives from all twenty pilot sites, the Department of Health information prescriptions team, the consortium evaluation team and people from relevant support organisations. A list of participants can be downloaded here.

The conference set out to: • provide an overview of information prescriptions • help create a network of pilot sites to encourage sharing of experiences and learning • explain the evaluation process and clarify expectations • identify resource requirements and sources of support and • explore learning and support needs and the focus for future events. Download the conference agenda.

You can download a full report of the launch conference here (PDF).

Here, too, is a brief summary of the key themes emerging from the conference.

The programme in brief:

 After an introduction to the day, Rosie Winterton, Minister for Health, gave a keynote speech 'The Vision for Successful Information Prescriptions'. The first working session – Getting started: the experiences of the pilot sites – involved small group discussions focusing on achievements so far and the challenges ahead.

Then Harry Cayton, DH National Director for Patients and the Public, gave a presentation on the wider context of patient information prescriptions. Download his presentation here.

The morning session closed with a session on 'evaluation, co-ordination and support'. Download the presentation here . This covered: a briefing on the main steps of the work; identifying what will be needed at what stage; reporting on evaluation and co-ordination; and the support available to the pilot sites.

After a 'resources fair', at which support organisations presented information and raised discussion points, the remainder of the day was given over to the first of the project's action learning network meetings. These facilitated sessions are designed to give participants an opportunity to network with each other and explore issues (by common patient groups – e.g., cancer or mental health – or by common approaches, development themes or other areas of interest). Participants were asked to select a particular group to join for this session, looking at: • themes for future learning activities • concerns and risks or • useful connections. Download a presentation about the action learning networks.

After a final summing up, evaluation and a look at the next steps, the conference closed.

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