University of Aberdeen Patient Partner Programme

Patient Partners are an integral part of the education and training within our programmes. They assist in providing ‘real life’ learning opportunities where our students can gain confidence and competence possible in a safe and simulated environment.

Patient Partners are members of the public who assist in the practice and learning sessions by being available to speak to and be examined by our students. Patient Partners are used during student examinations too.

There is no prior training or experiences necessary to be selected to join the Programme, all we ask is that a Patient Partner be willing to help, reliable and most importantly have a good sense of humour!

There are two areas in which Patient Partners assist:

Communication: Patient Partners role play to have a health problem from a scenario (short description of symptoms and how they have been affecting you, as well as a social and medical history) so that medical and dental students can practise interviewing patients away from the hussle and bussle of a busy hospital ward. No acting experience required.

Examination: Patient Partners pick which examinations they are happy to be part of. Patient Partners examined for different types of non-invasive procedures/examinations (for example, the taking of a blood pressure, listening to a patient’s lungs or having joints examined/put through normal movements).

Some Patient Partners are involved with both communication and physical examination sessions.

In the video below, Malcolm and Josh share their experiences of our Patient Partner Programme from a volunteer and a medical student perspective.