The NHS must listen to patients and give them a stronger voice

Gisela Stuart, Health Minister

Patients said doctors talked about them as if they are not there, did not tell them what is going on and did not consult them about their treatment.

Ministers said the results of the survey showed doctors must listen to patients and involve them more.

The poll, of more than 80,000 coronary heart disease sufferers in England, found that the most dissatisfied patients were those under 55.

The survey also found:

• one in five of all patients said they rarely or only sometimes understood the answers doctors gave to their questions
• more than a quarter were not even told the name of the doctor in charge of their case
• more than a fifth said there had been occasions when doctors or nurses had talked about them as though they were not present
• 20% of people who had fears about their condition felt unable to talk to doctors about their worries

Gisela Stuart called for reform

In addition, six Modernisation Action Teams has been set up to develop a National Plan for the NHS.

One of the teams will focus on patient rights and care.

Health Minister Gisela Stuart said: "The initial results of this survey show that the NHS must listen to patients and give them a stronger voice.

"The national plan to modernise the NHS will include proposals to increase the information we provide to patients and the public, improve patient involvement in their care and support public involvement in the development of health policy."

A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said good communication and joint decision making was a critical part of effective patient care.

"We are glad to see this is an issue the NHS is taking seriously.

"Providing heart patients and their families with relevant information that can help them to make decisions about their diagnosis and treatment is a key part of the BHF work."