Public involvement in health care: Every voice counts, not just that of patients

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.462

BMJ 2004;328:462 (21 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.462

Letter

Public involvement in health care

Every voice counts, not just that of patients

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001concerns "persons to whom... services are being or may be provided."This means that more people than current patients have to beinvolved "directly or through representatives" about plans andservices. Florin and Dixon's philosophising about the desirabilityof public involvement is therefore curious.¹

User involvement in health and social care should lead to sharedpower and genuine partnerships, with no short cuts or quickfixes.² Investment in community development is needed for sustainableengagement, so that every voice can count, not just that ofpatients.³

Many users reject the role of a patient as inherently powerless.My experience in Wandsworth is that user participation groupsin primary care practices can foster trust, responsibility,and partnership between users, practitioners, and managers.Such small scale benefits are important. Supporting practicebased participation can open new channels for compliance with. . . [Full text of this article]

Andrew Craig, partner

Moore Adamson Craig Partnership LLP, London SE21 8BT andrew@mooreadamsoncraig.co.uk