Partners or partisans? Patient participation at Marylebone Health Centre

This paper outlines some of the issues which arose for patients and professionals involved in patient participation projects at the Marylebone health centre in London. It describes the projects undertaken and focuses on the practical implications of working with rather than for patients. Dilemmas surrounding patient participation are discussed, including the ways volunteers are rewarded, how doctors and patients can share knowledge, how participation is affected by professional boundaries, and why a regular group meeting may not necessarily be the best way to involve patients in decision making. The successes of patient participation are also highlighted.