02 June 2025
Ellie Dalby is a researcher by profession, but as someone living with rheumatic autoimmune conditions, she also brings a powerful personal perspective to her work as a patient partner. Ahead of her appearance at our upcoming patient voices in rheumatology
course - where she’ll speak about communication throughout her healthcare journey - we spoke with Ellie about why it’s so important for healthcare professionals to hear directly from patients.
When I first heard that the British Society for Rheumatology would be hosting a course dedicated to the patient voice and delivering patient-centred care, I was absolutely thrilled. There’s been growing recognition of the importance of patient perspective in recent years, but it’s vital that our voices are not only heard - they must be considered and meaningfully integrated into how care is delivered. Events like this are essential for helping healthcare professionals take those next steps towards truly collaborative, patient-centred approach.
As both a researcher and someone living with rheumatic autoimmune conditions, I’ve experienced healthcare from both sides. My lived experience gives me a unique perspective that’s shaped by experience care delivery, understanding improvement needed and growing patient-centred care. The patient voices course is the perfect forum to share insights that can help improve care - not just for outcomes, but for the patient experience of receiving and delivering it.
One moment in my own healthcare experience that has always stayed with me is a simple one: a doctor once began our appointment by asking what I hoped to get out of our time together. Before diving into clinical questions, she prioritised me as a person. She asked about how I wanted to live - not just how I wanted to feel. That single question shifted the entire tone of our relationship. She managed my expectations, listened to my goals, and worked with me to create a care plan that felt personal and encouraging.
This is the kind of approach that can be inspired and supported through conferences like this. Traditional appointments are often time-pressured, and patients may struggle to articulate the full complexity of their experiences. But with an opportunity such as this course, we can collaboratively step back and reflect to consider how professionals can offer constructive, pragmatic insights into what’s working - and what could be better.
My hope is that clinicians attending the course will take away a renewed appreciation for the value of partnership in healthcare. Patients are equal and essential members of the care team. When we are heard, trusted, and involved in decisions, we’re not only more engaged - we’re also better equipped to manage our conditions.
If you want to deepen your understanding of patient-centred care, our patient voices in rheumatology course offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from those with lived experience. By listening, reflecting, and learning alongside patients like Ellie, you’ll gain insights that can transform the way care is delivered - making it more collaborative, compassionate, and effective.
Book your place today.