Beyond consumerism

Dear healthmatters – The NHS Plan emphasises patient advocacy (in schemes for individuals based in hospitals) and confuses the voluntary sector with the private sector.

Individual patients will serve on a number of new panels but where are the collective representations of local community views?

Patients, and people, are not just “consumers” and “customers”. Consultation with communities is rather more than “consumer feedback”. And voluntary is not private. The private sector exists to make profits, the voluntary sector exists to put people first. The “New NHS” needs, and belongs to, the public.

John Nicholson
Chief Executive
UK Public Health Association
Manchester