NHS and Social Care Policies (NHSASCP)
Patient and Public Involvement in the National Health Service
The government has placed the principle of patient and public involvement
firmly at the heart of the NHS agenda, and expects health professionals
to work with people who receive their care,
to develop and provide health services that more
accurately reflect their needs.
Since January 2003, Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act places a
statutory duty on all NHS Trusts to involve and consult patients and the public in:
- Planning services
- Developing and considering proposals for changes in the way
services are delivered
- Decisions that affect how services operate.
To support this work, the Department of Health has developed
policy and guidance and has also put in place various new structures to replace
the Community Health Councils which ceased to exist from December 1st 2003.
To find out more please follow this web link: www.dh.gov.uk
or click on the yellow underlined links:
If you are living with a long term condition, then you may be interested in the Expert Patient Programme (click on)
www.expertpatients.nhs.uk