"Patient and public involvement" is about encouraging patients and the public to have their say at every level of the NHS. This is so the NHS can:
-
plan future services
-
improve existing services
-
become more open and accountable
For NHS trusts, it means they must:
-
actively seek feedback from those who use their services
-
seek public input every time there are plans to change a service or develop a new one
-
learn from best practice
-
collaborate with local voluntary groups
As patients become more involved in their healthcare (in partnership with health professionals) through patient and public involvement, they should have more freedom of choice when accessing healthcare services and have enough information to make informed choices about their medical treatment.
The body responsible for ensuring that the public is involved in decision making about health services in England is the
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
. It works at national, regional and local levels.
Choose from the links below to find out about the NHS-run patient and public involvement process in different parts of Kent.
