Co-creating health: more than a dream

The BMJ launched a strategy to “walk the talk” on patient partnership three years ago.1 Its key components include patient review of research papers, requiring authors to invite patients to help shape their educational articles, and new patient led content. (www.bmj.com.campaign/patient-partnership). We reported on progress a year ago.2 Since then, with the help of patient authors, our patient reviewers, and patient panel members—to all of whom we owe a debt of thanks—we have continued our ambitious quest towards coproduced content. Each section of the journal now has a target for patient involvement, and we are refining a series of research projects, including an evaluation of the strategy’s impact.

In some areas, progress has been slower than we would like. One is to realise our pledge to the #PatientsIncluded campaign to involve patients in all conferences we co-run and sponsor. But it is good to see that the campaign’s call to include patients in all forums discussing their health and wellbeing is increasingly being heard, as …