Reactions to the chief medical officer's report: Where are patients' voices?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39030.734988.3A

BMJ 2006;333:1072 (18 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39030.734988.3A

Letters

Reactions to the chief medical officer's report

Where are patients' voices?

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

With reference to Irvine's first sentence,¹isn't it time that patients speak out in support of their generalpractitioners? Or quote findings back at staff of the PickerInstitute and other self appointed, so called patient advocates,such as "92% [of patients] said they were treated with dignityand respect by the doctor" or "76% said they had complete confidenceand trust in their doctor"?² Which other profession commandssuch respect, and, in Britain, rightly so?

Where is the forum where satisfied patients(they do exist) can make their voices heard?

Reinhard Wentz, retired

¹ Twickenham TW2 7PS sleuthmedical@yahoo.com

Competing interests: RW has diabetes and islooked after very well by his general practitioner and all membersof her team.

Irvine D. Success relies on winning hearts and minds. BMJ 2006;333:965-6.(4 November.)[Free Full Text]
Coulter A. What do patients and the public want from primary care? BMJ 2005;331:1199-201.[Free Full Text]