Short description:

This engaging book critically examines the future of health care and public health from the perspective of users and citizens. Providing an overview of the key contemporary debates on health policy, rationing, scientific developments, regulation, audit, effectiveness and consumerism.The author also outlines what health policy and health services might look like if it was based in the experiences and concerns of its users

Long description:

`The author presents a plethora of infomation on users as individuals, their communities, research, healthcare markets and health service myths - old and new. It's a cool academic appraisal of where the power lies and how more might be shared with the patient' - Health Service Journal

`Anything that helps us to understand the complexities of healthcare provision and what issues are important to users is therefore helpful. I welcome Christine Hogg's excellent summary of the issues raised by users about healthcare services. It clearly informs readers of the debates that need to take place and of the issues that healthcare practitioners should address in order to better serve their users.... So read the book to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that users feel strongly about' - British Medical Journal

Making an original contribution to debates on health policy, this accessible and engaging book critically examines the future of health care and public health policy from the perspective of users and citizens. Consumerism, partnerships with patients and user involvement are seen as key to future health care and healthy public policies.

The book outlines how individuals as patients, healthy people and research subjects relate to health services and how the public, as citizens, influence health care and public policies at local, national and international levels.

`...[T]his is a useful, broad ranging text in which the breadth compensates for the brevity of some of the discussions' - Journal of Interprofessional Care

`It is fluently written and covers a wide range of material' - Medical Sociology News

`This is mainly a factual and descriptive account of ways to open up to ordinary people in their roles as both patients and citizens to influence the development of health policy and the delivery of health services' - Health & Social Care in the Community

`Christine Hogg understands the user movement from personal involvement and, as an honorary research fellow at North London University, she knows her way round the literature. Indeed, she draws on the authority of some 400 references, including the insights of social gurus such as Ivan Illich and Richard Titmuss.... The author presents a plethora of infomation on users as individuals, their communities, research, healthcare markets and health service myths - old and new. It's a cool academic appraisal of where the power lies and how more might be shared with the patient' - Health Service Journal

`Anything that helps us to understand the complexities of healthcare provision and what issues are important to users is therefore helpful. I welcome Christine Hogg's excellent summary of the issues raised by users about healthcare services. It clearly informs readers of the debates that need to take place and of the issues that healthcare practitioners should address in order to better serve their users.... So read the book to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that users feel strongly about' - British Medical Journal

`This is a critical, highly accessible and very well informed text on a vitally important topic. The author shows how the pressures on the NHS from patients and user groups are manipulated by powerful interests and analyzes how such processes can be challenged' - Professor Norman Ginsburg, School of Social Sciences, University of North London

`Christine Hogg understands the user movement from personal involvement and, as an honorary research fellow at the North London University, she knows her way round the literature. Indeed, she draws on the authority of some 400 references, including the insights of social gurus such as Ivan Illich and Richard Titmuss....The author presents a plethora of information on users as individuals, their communities, research, healthcare markets and health service myths-old and new. It's a cool academic appraisal of where the power lies and how more might be shared with the patient' - Health Service Journal

`Christine Hogg's book, which examines health care and public health from the perspectives of the user, is, therefore, very timely. There are nine easily read chapters covering such topics as professional patient relationship, paternalism, access to helath, medicalization of certain conditions, research and how users and citizens can contribute to health policy....The arguments are presented in a clear and balanced way and are well referenced....the book does have a good section on the role of pressure groups and voluntary organizations....a thought provoking and well written book. I particularly like Christine Hogg's description of patients as just people with particular health problems who may be taking medicines or recieving treatment. I would like to see this book on the essential reading list of all GPs' - British Journal of General Practice

`This is a stimulating text by a self-confessed conformist who is confident with her material, which is well crafted.... Ministers and policy makers need to seriously ponder the messages of this book to think and act on how to turn political rhetoric into reality.... Citizens and users should read this book to become empowered.' - The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health

`This book's overriding strength is that it seeks to offer a critical narrative that creates an arena in which individuals become fully involved in building the health care agenda.... The book brings a fresh, powerful and passionate approach to many of the themes that form its focus. It is a book that will engage your political and moral acumen and is worth your consideration.' - Nursing Ethics

`It is fluently written and covers a wide range of material.... Overall, then this is a useful, broad ranging text' - Medical Sociology News