In our pilot episode for the Better Together podcast we spoke with Kay Hyman, then Chief Executive of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, who has since retired from the organisation after a long and valuable contribution.

In our wide-ranging conversation we shed some light on the Nepean Blue Mountains LHD’s commitment to consumer engagement, including in relation to its ongoing redevelopment of Nepean Hospital in Western Sydney.

We also discuss some of the key challenges to meaningful health consumer engagement, including in relation to cultural and linguistic diversity, the need for better support for consumer representatives and better models for consumer engagement.

Better Together is a platform for health consumers and health care workers to partner in vital conversations about how our health system can achieve better outcomes for all.

The podcast comes to you from the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD), where Health Consumer Representatives join with senior clinicians and health service leaders to discuss a range of topics relevant to health care design and delivery.

As part of the global health consumer movement, Better Together puts the experience of the individual patient front and centre, advocating for consumers to be more actively involved in their own care and reshape our institutions towards better health outcomes.

With a focus on promoting the value of genuine and effective consumer engagement strategies in the context of Australian public health care, this podcast is a 100% health consumer driven initiative that is proudly supported by staff at NBMLHD.