Recent News

Tuesday 31 May 2011 09:00 by Graham English

The Fontis Declaration

'Our Society, Our Public Services' is the title of the Fontis Declaration. It says what Fontis stands for; giving people control of their lives and their services, a new psychological and social contract which gives people a sense of local and ownership of their services, involvement done within a proper ethical framework and with real impact.

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Wednesday 25 May 2011 14:02 by Graham English

Fontis starts Phase 2 with Radiographers

Fontis has been commssioned to provide a mixture of supportive review and reimagining of future practices to achieve concrete benefits - and will do so in ways which are creative and fun as well as getting things done, says Mark.

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Tuesday 17 May 2011 14:02 by Graham English

The Fontis NHS Future Forum Submission

Fontis made a submission to the Future Forum last week. We argue for a new deal for the relationship between people and the NHS, requiring a new political settlement and advocate some technical changes to help get there.

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Thursday 24 March 2011 14:02 by Graham English

The Fontis Forum

Our Forum is live and open to registered users of the Fontis site!

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Tuesday 1 June 2010 18:05 by Graham English

Lambeth Council

Lambeth Council says it has initiated an open commission to progress ideas about a new form of Co-Operative Council, affecting council decision-making and involvement. Others disagree.

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The Fontis Declaration

Tuesday 31 May 2011 09:00 by Graham English

Fontis stands for important and necessary change in our society and our public services - it's about giving people control of their lives and their services, a new psychological and social contract which gives people a sense of local and ownership of their services, and it's about so much more.

Read The Declaration in full here

Sign up here

Fontis starts Phase 2 with Radiographers

Wednesday 25 May 2011 14:02 by Graham English

Fontis are working with the Council of the Society and College of Radiographers on releasing the potential of public involvement for them as a professional body and a Trades Union over the next few years.

“We started work with the College of Radiographers last year.  Like a number of the professional bodies and unions the College wanted to take stock of the role of the public and patient involvement in its future strategies and practices,” says Mark Butler who is leading the work for Fontis.

“The College had built up a number of strands of work where involvement plays a definite role over the last decade.  It obviously already features in their thinking and culture, but what they were looking for was challenge and support - to include both some review of what was already in place and help in thinking through what would be needed for the next decade.” 

“This mixture of supportive review and reimagining of future practices to achieve concrete benefits is exactly what Fontis is able to provide.  The next session in June looks set to be creative and fun as well as getting things done”

“Any serious modern membership organization needs to take time to look afresh at the added value of public involvement in achieving its aims – from enhancing governance and trust to new connectivity with members and communities; from growing credibility to securing political leverage.  We look forward to helping the Radiographers secure all these benefits in the weeks ahead.”

The Fontis NHS Future Forum Submission

Tuesday 17 May 2011 14:02 by Graham English

It was always likely to be a difficult task - how to turn a pause to reconsider major public policy into a listening exercise when there's already been a consultation and much of what could be said has been said long ago?  In which case what is heard in the listening exercise is clearly a product of Big P politics - a new political settlement over the Bill/Reforms.

However we see the need for a different type of political settlement - a settlement that generates a new psychological and social contract betwen people and the NHS, a new sense of local and personal ownership.

We also advocate a range of more technical changes, some radical in their effect, including a proposal to give people a right to choose who commissions care on their behalf.

Read the full submission here