How patient involvement in care is improving service provision

An emphasis on public and service-user involvement runs through the core initiatives of the modernisation agenda as outlined in The NHS Plan (Department of Health, 2000) and related policy documents. This article discusses problems that have prevented the NHS from being responsive to the views of service users and what the implementation of policies can offer in terms of overcoming such problems. In addition, initiatives and other ways of identifying and delivering public or patient needs are considered.