Celebrating 5 Years of Stories and Learning in Northern Ireland

In September 2025 the Public Health Agency celebrated an incredible 5th Anniversary of Care Opinion in Northern Ireland. All five geographical Health and Social Care Trusts, plus the regional Ambulance Service, attended a wonderful event alongside colleagues from Care Opinion, the Public Health Agency, and invited guests.

Since beginning their contract in August 2020, Northern Ireland has taken leaps and bounds, offering Care Opinion to patients, service users, and their families and carers through a vast range of health and social care settings. We couldn't be more proud to work with the dedicated Patient Experience Teams staff of Northern Ireland, who strive each day to listen to and respond to the lived experience of people in Northern Ireland.

The day's celebrations focused on the power of listening. And our CEO Fraser Gilmore spoke about the power of allowing people to tell their own story and to truly listen to what they have to say.

There are over 32,000 stories on Care Opinion from Northern Ireland, and over 3,200 staff members reading and responding to those stories. Behind all the facts and figures however, it's people's stories that are transforming the landscape of health and social care in Northern Ireland. 

Representatives from each of the Trusts spoke about the impact of some of these stories. We invite you to sit back and enjoy their very moving presentations.

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

Can we learn from positive feedback? Hear how these Orthopaedics teams are using their positive feedback to boost staff morale and promote a culture of continuous learning, and cultural transformation.

Northern Health & Social Care Trust

When a difficult and critical story came in about a patient's maternity experience the team chose to listen and reach out to the story author. Hear how this Care Opinion story became a catalyst for connection and relationship building between the author and the maternity service.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

Service users with a learning disability are still often on the margins of healthcare decisions. Learn how the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is leading on work throughout Northern Ireland to meet people where they are, and recognise the value of their lived experience. 

South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

One staff member's inappropriate comments about Autism caused offense and upset, and marred an otherwise positive healthcare experience. A story on Care Opinion offered the opportunity for learning, and prompted the introduction of staff training on Autism.

Southern Health & Social Care Trust

With 90% of Care Opinion stories in this Trust being entirely positive, staff who are named in these stories are now nominated for a Greatix Award in recognition of their work. To close the feedback loop, authors are told about the nomination so that they know their appreciation of that staff member has been recognised.

Western Health & Social Care Trust

When a service user of a Mental Health service that supports people with addiction problems complained that the therapy offered was inadequate, the team initially felt despondent and defensive. By taking the feedback on board and working with service users, this team transformed the programs they offer and influenced service provision in the region.

We hope you've enjoyed these fabulous talks on the power of stories and transformational change.

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