Patient Focus and Public Involvement

The Scottish Executive is firmly committed to improving NHS services by learning from the experiences of patients, as well as involving patients, carers and the public in decisions about health services. This commitment will ensure that the NHS:

treats people with respect and as individuals by involving patients in their own care
is a service designed for and with the people who rely upon it
involves people and communities in improving the quality of care, influencing NHS priorities and planning healthcare services.

Patient Focus

In a patient-focused NHS, listening to and acting upon the views of patients, carers and local communities will be given the same priority as clinical standards and financial performance. A patient-focused NHS is designed to meet the needs and wishes of individuals and will:

listen and talk to patients, carers and the public
know and understand the needs of people using the service
keep patients and carers informed about services
involve patients in decisions about their care and treatment
have clear, explicit standards of service
be polite and treat people with respect
be able to respond to the particular needs of each patient and carer
ensure effective action is taken to improve services.

Public Involvement

Involving people in decisions about planning, delivering and improving health services is a duty of NHS Boards.

You can be involved in the development of the NHS if you are:

a patient
a carer
a member of the public who may use services in the future
a representative of patients and the public.

Involving the public in the NHS is important for the following reasons:

it makes NHS Boards more accountable for what they achieve with substantial sums of public money
it helps the NHS to provide a better service
the public expect to be involved in decisions that will affect them and their communities.

Setting up the Scottish Health Council is just one of the ways in which the Scottish Executive is seeking to promote a patient-focused NHS that involves the public in decision-making.