Few patients are aware of contents of patient's charter

Doctors were sceptical about the impact of the patient's charter when it was launched in 1991, and subsequent events did little to change their minds. A report from the King's Fund published last week examines how a future charter could improve on the original.

The researchers, commissioned by the NHS Executive, consulted patients, carers, managers, and clinicians, along with voluntary and professional organisations. They found that two of the charter's greatest …