Where is this all leading?

The Future Hospital Commission acknowledges that the principal challenge for healthcare organisations and professionals is to accept the fundamental requirement that patients must be treated with compassion, kindness and respect while having their physical and emotional needs met at all times. The recognition that clinical outcomes alone are an insufficient guide to the adequacy of health service provision demands cultural, organisational and individual change. In the Future Hospital Forum we scan the world literature for papers on systems of care that might best ensure these principles are delivered, and to critically evaluate their potential impact. The theme in this edition is leadership.