Recent posts on the Public Involvement Blog

Getting My Sh*t together and other belated New Year resolutions    (February 1, 2010)

Faecal occult blood has a certain fashionably vampire ring about it. It gives the right air of spooky mystery so encouraging us all to get engaged and involved in our own health by sending in our samples for the bowel cancer screening programme. The instructions for collection are admirably brisk and... [Continue reading]

NHS Constitution – Thanks, but you can keep the screening just the same    (January 15, 2010)

It’s been a long gestation since publication in January 2009, but the NHS Constitution is now closer to reality (if not legal enforceability, which was never on the cards anyway).  Its provisions get written into an increasing number of official documents, viz Mr Burnham’s next 5 year plan for the... [Continue reading]

Service Quality and Service Promises    (January 5, 2010)

Constitutional Issues in the Health Service We are busy putting together our response to the latest consultation on the NHS Constitution which you will see soon. It has set the old hare running of whether statements of service quality are worth the paper they are written on – however grandiose... [Continue reading]

No buts? This has got to be utterly better.    (November 26, 2009)

A while ago in a fit of enthusiasm brought on by my experience with Eurostar I promised to tell you about my experience with the butter.  This is a simple tale of how to complete the feedback loop and turn a complainant into a fan. A change for the worse For several years I have been buying a particular... [Continue reading]

Health Act rag bag delivers part of the real prize    (November 16, 2009)

Health Act Rag Bag Almost unremarked in the rush of bills getting  the Royal Nod on Friday  the 13th was the rag bag of measures collectively known as the Health Act 2009. Tucked away among new powers to strengthen tobacco control; to place a duty on all NHS bodies, private sector and third sector... [Continue reading]

Telling it like it isn’t: the language of the NHS    (November 13, 2009)

I always like it when the newsletter of NHS Networks pops into my inbox with its cheery “ping”.  Not only does it save me lots of time finding out things, but occasionally it brings a dose of real wisdom coupled with wit.  Today’s was no exception with its offering of a front page mini... [Continue reading]

The November Newsletter    (November 11, 2009)

Dread Moment, Dead Time – the Roots of Laughter and the Prompt to Action I was in the queue at the Post Office – two positions open for business; 12 people in the queue; having to pay £5 for special delivery because of strike. The message on the QTV? ‘The only real laughter comes from... [Continue reading]

Complaints – Despair, Specs and Teeth    (November 4, 2009)

Coming in Threes You know how it is – life is ok for a while and everything more or less works. Some minor niggles, something goes wrong perhaps but it is soon fixed or can be parked for the future and then bang! like the proverbial No 11 bus they all come at once. Banging our Heads against Banks The... [Continue reading]