Current health policy places an emphasis on the greater involvement of health service users and carers in all aspects of their care, including planning, provision and evaluation. However, the focus is usually on 'after the event' accounts - i.e. when individuals have become consumers of health care services. There is little patient involvement in 'before the event' experiences such as planning to meet health care needs, or in the training of health care practitioners. This book fills that gap, and meets a growing demand for educational approaches that address the perspectives of patients and carers.

TONY WARNE is Senior Lecturer in Health Service Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He has an extensive background in mental health practice and service management. He is an active researcher in mental health nursing, nurse education and health service organization and management.

SUSAN MCANDREW is Nursing Lecturer at the School of Healthcare Studies, University of Leeds, UK. She is also a Marital and Sex Therapist. She has an extensive background in mental health nursing. Although she works full time as a lecturer in the university, she currently works 1 day per week in primary mental health care at a GP's surgery. Her research interests are in suicide and the involvement of patients in mental health nurse education.