How do you balance creative ideas with practical reality in service co-design?
When Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust needed to replace two outdated GP facilities with a new health and wellness centre, they faced the challenge of uniting multiple stakeholders behind a shared vision. The foundation of our approach involved:
1. Prioritising an understanding of user needs. The co-design process centred on collaborating with local residents, staff, and GPs to define the services, integration, space needs, and impact measures for the new centre. This ensured the design aligned with the community's values and future needs.
2. Fostering diverse perspectives. We included a diverse range of voices to gather insights. This enabled them to identify creative ideas like flexible event spaces, outdoor waiting areas, and private patient education zones.
3. Balancing innovation and feasibility. While the project offered a chance to innovate beyond existing constraints, the team regularly consulted with finance and design experts to ensure the ideas were practical and cost-effective. Creative ideas were evaluated against evidenced needs.
4. Facilitating stakeholder collaboration. The co-design process fostered deeper connections among the stakeholders. By successfully integrating diverse needs, the team shaped a coherent vision that is underpinning the business case for the full design and build.
Effective service co-design always requires a balance of creative thinking tempered by the practical realities of service delivery. By focusing on user needs, embracing diverse perspectives, and aligning stakeholders behind a shared vision it’s possible to create something innovative and effective but also, importantly, achievable.
I’m interested in other people’s experiences of co-designing service models in health and care, what challenges has your organisation has faced?
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