Final Report > Chapter 28: Public Involvement Through Empowerment > The changing direction of policy

The changing direction of policy

8 Since the mid-1990s, successive governments have signalled a shift in policy towards a greater emphasis on the involvement of the public and patients in healthcare. Recent initiatives have placed this involvement in the NHS of the future at centre stage. [5] This represents a major development. We agree strongly with `The NHS Plan' when it states: `NHS care has to be shaped around the convenience and concerns of patients ... patients must have more say in their own treatment and more influence over the way the NHS works.' [6] This matters not only because, as citizens who `own' the NHS, we have a moral and political right to be involved, but also because greater involvement will bring greater feedback from the public and this in turn will help to improve the quality of healthcare. We would add, however, that the measures adopted must be fit to do the job. Public confidence in the NHS cannot afford another period of rhetorical flourish not matched by real action.

Footnotes

[5] See `Patient and public involvement in the new NHS'. London: Department of Health, 1999; and `The NHS Plan'. London: Department of Health, 2000

[6] `The NHS Plan'. London: Department of Health, 2000. Para 10.1