A survey found that members of the public wanted to know far more about the quality of healthcare providers, the treatments they were offered, and the healthcare options that were available to them.
Source: Survey of the UK public: Patients rights, Patients Association (020 8423 9111)
Links: Report | Patients Association press release
Date: 2005-Dec
An article said that NHS Direct (a telephone advice service) facilitated patient empowerment by enabling patients to care for themselves, and to access health advice and services. It also offered the prerequisites for empowerment perceived to be lacking in the wider National Health Service, including time, respect, listening, support, and information.
Source: Alicia O Cathain et al., 'Does NHS Direct empower patients?', Social Science & Medicine Volume 61, Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
An article explored the introduction of a new system of patient and public involvement in the National Health Service in England.
Source: Rob Baggott, 'A funny thing happened on the way to the forum? Reforming patient and public involvement in the NHS in England', Public Administration, Volume 83 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Sep
A report said that the National Institute for Mental Health in England needed to change its working practices to engage with a wider range of service users.
Source: Health and Social Care Advisory Service, Making a Real Difference: Strengthening service user and carer involvement in NIMHE, National Institute for Mental Health in England/National Health Service (0113 254 5000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Aug
A think-tank report said that locally elected governors of National Health Service foundation trusts were struggling to make them more accountable to their local communities.
Source: Richard Lewis, Governing Foundation Trusts: A new era for public accountability, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Report (pdf) | King's Fund press release
Date: 2005-May
Researchers found that local authorities were having a greater say in the way that local health services were run, through elected councillors sitting on overview and scrutiny committees.
Source: Health Under Scrutiny?, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (0161 275 0611)
Links: Summary (pdf) | NPCRDC press release
Date: 2005-Apr
A report said that local authorities were using their new health scrutiny powers to achieve real improvements in local health services.
Source: Health Scrutiny Works! A review of effective local authority scrutiny of health in its first two years, Democratic Health Network, available from Central Books (0845 458 9910)
Links: LGIU press release
Date: 2005-Apr
A report said that overview and scrutiny powers were being used by local councils to improve the health of local democracy and modernize council culture.
Source: Redefining Scrutiny: The experience of the London Scrutiny Learning Set, Shared Intelligence (020 7837 3090) and Centre for Public Scrutiny
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2005-Apr
A report provided an introduction to democratic engagement in the National Health Service, patient and public involvement in health, and health scrutiny.
Source: Tackling the Democratic Deficit in Health: An introduction to the power of local authority health scrutiny, Centre for Public Scrutiny (020 7296 6595) and National Primary Care Research and Development Centre
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
The government announced (following consultation) changes to the network of patient and public involvement forums which were established in the National Health Service in December 2003. Existing forums would be merged, so that there was one per primary care trust. Forums would also be given more support. The outgoing body for public and patient representation called the plan a 'far cry from the vision of independent citizen involvement in health decision making'. Local authorities called the new forum boundaries 'unrecognisable and inefficient', rendering the forums less accessible.
Source: Government Response to the Consultation Exercise about the Future Support Arrangements for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 15 March 2005, Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (0845 120 7111) | Press release 16 March 2005, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Consultation responses (pdf) | DH press release | CPPIH press release | LGA press release
Date: 2005-Mar
