The NHS needs to be clear about the aims and how to achieve themThe government is promoting public involvement in health care as part of new NHS policy.

Aims and objectives This study explores how the term patient-centred care is understood, particularly by those who are involved in translating the concept from a theoretical idea into a practical application. It examines the ways in which intermediate level stakeholders such as health service managers, educationalists, professional leaders and officers of patient bodies understand and promote patient-centred care among health professionals actually delivering patient care.Design Qualitative interview study.Setting and participants Interviewees were drawn from groups and organizations from four categories: health agencies and regulatory bodies, Royal Colleges and other professional bodies, educational institutions, patient and user groups and consumer organizations.Main variables studied The meanings and understandings of patient-centred care, commitment to implementing patient-centred care and barriers and opportunities to implementation.Results and conclusions Patient-centred care covers a range of activities from patient involvement in individual care to public involvement in health policy decisions. Current Department of Health policy has made patient-centred care a priority, but has not clarified exactly what it means. Thus, health professionals, educationalists, managers and patient representatives have all developed different meanings of patient-centred care to reflect their own particular backgrounds and roles. The individual aspects of patient-centred care have been neglected in policy terms and important research findings have not been incorporated into policies to change the attitudes and behaviours of health professionals. Developing a shared understanding of patientcentred care which encompasses all its components is an important role for the new Commission for Patient and Public Involvement.

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