Guest blogs

The advances in medical science are inspiring and continuing to develop at pace from the latest cancer treatments to cutting-edge surgery. We owe so much to the clinical pioneers and brave patients willing to be the ‘first’.

We often assume that new is better but when things don’t work out as hoped, it’s a different story. This is the culture of surgical innovation. Robots, gadgets, and other novel ways of operating are exciting and they generate attention. Surgeon enthusiasm for improving outcomes sweeps patients along.

The third in our series of blogs in the lead up to World Patient Safety Day is from Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association. She reflects on progress on patient engagement and what needs to happen next.

As part of our series leading up to World Patient Safety Day, David Lawson, who leads the DHSC’s medical technology directorate, discusses how patients are influencing the strategy development.

In the lead up to World Patient Safety Day on 17 September, we are running a series of blogs from a range of experts considering different aspects of patient engagement and participation. The first is from Sue Strudwick, a Patient Safety Partner at Kingston Hospital, on involving patients in policy-writing.

I’m a medical educator and for many years I have trained doctors and other health professionals to become better listeners. Nearly all the people I have taught have thought they were good at listening but then found how to do so better.