title: The challenge for medicine.
abstract: The biggest challenge for clinicians is their relationship with patients and the public. As knowledge and technical possibilities have advanced, there is evidence that the healthcare system is falling down in the more mundane aspects of healthcare. What has gone wrong with healthcare? Four published case studies are discussed. The government and the General Medical Council are determined to put the patient at the centre of healthcare. Examples of what this means are given from the NHS Plan, the Duties of a Doctor and recommendations from a Leeds Castle healthcare symposium. The changes involved are articulated from clinicians' perspectives and the patient perspective draws on recent publications documenting three (journalist) patients' experiences. Professionals will have to be trained more with the patient in mind. Allegiances will be to patients and teams rather than institutions and teams must be clearly accountable. We are ready.
authors.affiliation: Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority, London.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'