PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Christopher Clough
TI  - Involving patients and the public in the NHS
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.3-6-551
DP  - 2003 Nov 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 551--554
VI  - 3
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/3/6/551.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/3/6/551.full
SO  - Clin Med2003 Nov 01; 3
AB  - Involving patients and the public in the NHS is a new strategic initiative by the Deparment of Health. Over time it will make a significant change to how services are designed and delivered. Doctors need to be aware of this new legislation and the change in the patient/clinician dynamic it embraces. In the clinical setting a change of culture is required so that doctors move to working in partnerships with their patients. Within trusts, hospital or otherwise, structures must be in place to ensure appropriate patient/public involvement. Health service workers and the public will need to understand the skills required from both sides for a constructive partnership to emerge. It is hoped that the prioritising of health service resources in the future will be the result of a more democratic process involving patients, public and health service workers.