The patient—doctor partnership over 60 years and the role of the royal medical colleges

The key to any successful healthcare system is the recognition of the inseparable partnerships between the individual patient and their doctor. Diseases can be studied in populations but in contrast, patients are individuals and must be respected as such. There are several reasons why this partnership has been eroded as the NHS evolved over the last 60 years. Until the importance of this partnership is recognised, quality of patient care will not improve. There is an urgent need for government, management, the medical regulators, the profession and patients to work together, mutually respecting and trusting each others' complementary skills, responsibilities and needs. Consultation with any of these groups alone has not and will not resolve the problem. The colleges working with patients now have a leading opportunity to ensure that whatever changes are introduced into the NHS, this crucial partnership is recognised as the enduring linchpin in quality medical care of patients.