Patient Partnership course for GPs

This session will focus on some key aspects of working in partnership with patients to manage their illness using a case study approach. This session was reviewed by Suchita Shah and last updated in October 2014.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain how ‘patient-centredness’ involves recognition that each patient and each consultation is unique, and that patient-centredness leads to patient partnership
• Recognise that patients may be experts in their own condition, and not feel threatened by this
• Describe how to work with patients and use their expertise to manage their condition collaboratively and in partnership, with mutual benefit
• Recognise that partnership means admitting mistakes and apologising when one has been made

‘Patient partnership’ describes a patient-doctor relationship in which information, power and responsibility are shared. This ‘ideal consultation’ is based on mutual trust, equality and respect.