David Gilbert BSc

David Gilbert is a former mental health service user. He has 25 years experience of working with, and for patients. Amongst other things, he was Head of Patients and the Public at the Commission for Health Improvement, and Patient and Public Involvement Director at NHS Croydon. He has also worked at the Kings Fund, OPM and Consumer Association. He set up InHealth Associates seven years ago. He was co-founder of The Centre for Patient Leadership that originated the notion of patient leaders and patient leadership (with Mark Doughty), and was awarded ‘star leader’ status in the recent HSJ/NHS England Patient Leader Awards. He currently works part time as Patient Director, Sussex Musculoskeletal (MSK) Partnership – the first role of its kind in the NHS.

David is a leading thinker and doer in the field of patient and public engagement and is a respected strategist, facilitator, researcher, trainer, writer, connector and communicator. He has worked with over a hundred local, national and international organisations to help develop effective ways that patients can be true partners in health and healthcare.