Giving patients a seat at the table [tbc]

The NHS is one of the UK government’s top priorities. But where should the new government start? Safety of patients in the health system seems a good place to begin. Henrietta Hughes, the first patient safety commissioner, thinks that the NHS’s focus on finance and productivity is failing to improve patient safety (p 14). She says that the first step to improving patient safety is to actively listen to patients and to ensure such active listening is embedded throughout the health service.Working with patients as partners is an aspiration for many individuals and institutions. But despite an ethical imperative, many examples, and growing knowledge of how to meaningfully work in partnership with patients and the public, good practice remains patchy. Many research funders now ask for a patient and public involvement plan to be included in research applications. Dana Lewis—who has type 1 diabetes and co-developed and tested a closed…
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