More patient and public involvement in how services are run

02/10/2012

Writing in The Guardian, NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar makes the case for involving the public more in how NHS services are run and says the service needs more transparency, honesty and openness about the need to modernise health services.

Business critical

Walking in corridor In the article, published on 1 October, Mr Farrar discusses the importance of involving patients and the public in how services are run, identifying three key areas in which the NHS can do so;

involving the public more in key decisions about their health services
involving patients more in managing their care
encouraging greater involvement from the public in how they improve their health and wellbeing

With evidence showing that viewing patients as partners in care produces faster and more sustainable results, Mr Farrar says that this not only important for patients, but is "business critical" for the NHS if the service is to provide better quality care and outcomes with less money as demand grows.

Informing the public

Mr Farrar also highlights the "huge need for more transparency, honesty and openness about why we need to modernise health services. There is an even bigger need for revealing to the public information about the economics, finances, and costs of health and social care."

Walking in support

He adds: "Armed with better information about demand for and costs of healthcare, it should create the right platform for encouraging us to change to healthier lifestyle choices. There is the potential to move the public from "marching in opposition" to changes to local services, to "walking in support" of them. We could look forward to public board meetings, not fear them."