The first report of the Citizens Council (a lay panel) of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence was published, focusing on the factors which should be taken into account when decisions are made about clinical need.
Source: Determining 'Clinical Need': Report of the first meeting of the NICE Citizens Council, National Institute for Clinical Excellence (020 7766 9191)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Following consultation, the government announced changes to the way that topics are selected for examination by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. It said the objective is to open up the process for selecting topics for appraisal, and to increase the participation of professional and patient groups in the selection process.
Source: Press release 4.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release | Summary of new arrangements (pdf) | Consultation paper (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Patients should be treated as participants rather than subjects during clinical trials, researchers suggested: it was found that fewer than half of patients receiving a placebo as part of a clinical trial are informed about their treatment when the trial is over, despite government recommendations to ensure that that the public have confidence in, and benefit from, quality research.
Source: Zelda Di Blasi, Ted Kaptchuk, John Weinman and Jos Kleijnen, 'Informing participants of allocation to placebo at trial closure: postal survey', British Medical Journal 7.12.02
Links: Article | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report concluded that, by adopting a health improvement model, primary care organisations can involve their local communities in empowering processes which have benefits for the development of the health and social capital of those communities.
Source: Gill Callaghan and Gerald Wistow, Public and Patient Participation in Primary Care Groups: New beginnings for old power structures, Nuffield Institute for Health/University of Leeds (0113 343 3946)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A study concluded that, although good practice is emerging, the approach to consumer involvement in the National Health Service is not a strategic one, but instead consists of several ad-hoc initiatives.
Source: Involving Consumers in Healthcare - Case Study for the Involving Consumers Project, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
A new book argued that the future of the National Health Service depends on empowering patients to play a more active role in their own care and in policy development.
Source: Angela Coulter, The Autonomous Patient: Ending Paternalism in Medical Care, Nuffield Trust (020 7631 8450)
Links: Press release (Word file)
Date: 2002-Sep
Guidelines were published for involving children and young people particularly those who have a chronic illness or physical disability in local decisions about health services development.
Source: Jane Lightfoot and Patricia Sloper, Having a Say in Health: Guidelines for involving young patients in health services development, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Guidelines (pdf) | Research summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence said that it is establishing a 'Citizens Council' to advise it on decisions about treatments and care for the National Health Service. It started a recruitment campaign to find 30 ordinary members of the public in England and Wales who will 'consider issues from a public perspective'.
Source: Press release 19.8.02, National Institute for Clinical Excellence (020 7766 9191)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
