NHS 'must engage patients more'

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The NHS must do more to put patients at the heart of the health service in England, experts say.

Research by the Picker Institute and Health Foundation think-tanks said patients felt they were not consulted over decisions about their care.

But the two reports acknowledged they were satisfied with their care - and it had improved in recent years.

Patients' groups agreed the public were sidelined, but the government said it took patients' views very seriously.

Creating a patient-led NHS has been one of the key mantras of the government.

Even this week it was launching a public consultation as part of a review of NHS care being led by Sir Ara Darzi, a minister and practising surgeon.

Consultations are mostly a mere ritual with patients having little power over services Roger Goss, of Patient Concern

The Picker Institute report, which looked at patient surveys done between 2002 and 2007 involving 1.4m patients, and the Health Foundation study, which analysed 40 pieces of evidence, praised cuts in waiting lists and improvements in the quality of care.

But they found problems over how the NHS engaged with patients.

The Picker Institute pointed out that in every national poll they looked at, between a third and a half of patients said they were not involved in decisions about their care and treatment as much as they would like.

The studies said patients were particularly keen to have more choice of medication, the hospitals they were treated in and the doctors they were seen by.

Picker Institute chief executive Angela Coulter said: "The rhetoric of patient-centeredness has a hollow core."

She said evidence showed fully engaged patients had higher satisfaction rates and better health outcomes.

She also said they tended to be better at following their treatment programmes and attending screening, moves which would make the NHS more efficient.

Opening times

And Stephen Thornton, of the Health Foundation, added: "It is now time for the government to make good on its commitments to increase patient engagement."

Roger Goss, of Patient Concern, said: "The NHS is organised for the benefit of providers... whether it is opening times or placing patients in mixed-sex wards.

"Meanwhile, consultations are mostly a mere ritual with patients having little power over services."

But a spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We take the views of patients extremely seriously, and have put their needs at the centre of our health service reform."

And on the public consultation launched this week, he added: "By discussing these issues honestly and directly we can deliver the most effective treatment and services to everyone."