Final Report > Chapter 28: Public Involvement Through Empowerment > What is the agenda for public involvement? > The protection of vulnerable groups

The protection of vulnerable groups

17 Bristol was about the treatment of infants and children. It has been the unhappy history of the NHS that the interests of children have not commanded the importance which they deserve. Indeed, such has been the neglect of these interests that we propose significant changes in Chapter 29 (Children) to the way in which children's healthcare is managed and delivered in the future. Children are a part of the public. Because of their youth and immaturity, however, they are largely excluded from having a say in what happens to them. The involvement of the public, therefore, in the case of children, so as to safeguard children's healthcare services, must largely be achieved through those who can speak on behalf of children. But this does not mean that children's views are to be ignored nor that they should not be sought. We agree with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), when it wrote in one of its papers for Phase Two:

`Until recently children were rarely asked to comment upon the services they receive. Instead it was assumed that adults could represent children's views ... We believe more emphasis needs to be placed on the development of methodologies which could be used to gather children's views and perceptions of their care.' [10]

18 For this reason, in Chapter 29, we advocate for children a children-centred healthcare service. To achieve this, we propose measures aimed at ensuring that both children and their parents are involved in the planning, organisation and delivery of their care. In this way, children's needs and interests, and those of their parents, will be properly taken into account. Of course, children are not the only vulnerable group in our society. The elderly and infirm, people with disabilities and those with learning disabilities are among other groups which must be included rather than excluded. The point we wish to stress is that the agenda for involving the public must take account of the needs and contribution of vulnerable and hitherto excluded groups.

19 We now turn to consider what are the proper mechanisms for empowering and involving the public.

Footnotes

[10] Seminar 7. The Royal College of Nursing. Position Paper