Involving People

We have in place a culture and practices that recognise, respect, value and harness difference for the benefit of patients, the public, the stakeholders in NHS National Services Scotland's services and the staff who provide those services.

We are committed to:

• maintaining good communications, including listening and talking to patients, public and stakeholder groups who represent community partners
• knowing about those using the services and understand their needs
• keeping users of the services informed and involved
• having clear, explicit standards of service
• maintaining politeness and mutual respect
• having the ability to respond flexibly to an individual's specific needs
• ensuring effective action is taken to improve services
• talking with users, the wider public and stakeholder groups
• providing support and training for staff, patients and the public to build the knowledge, skills and ability to take effective action to improve services

for a summary of progress made on Patient Focus Public Involvement (PFPI) in 2008/09.