Co‑design is becoming a common global practice in health service delivery as organisations and leaders recognise the value of involving people with a lived experience of a relevant service or health condition.
Co-design goes beyond the more traditional partnering methods because it enables consumers to become equal partners in the improvement process for health services. This means improvements reflect their needs and preferences; not just those of people working within the health system.
The application of co-design methods requires investment in skills, attitudes and behaviour change, at individual and organisational levels, to shift power dynamics and drive real change.
Many toolkits already exist to support people to adopt a co-design approach. We have provided links to many of these in our library of co-design resources.
