Improving consultation with disadvantaged service users

Abstract

This article looks at two major policy drives: (1) consulting and involving service users in health care research, planning and provision and (2) addressing inequalities in health, in relation to the actual practice of consulting 'disadvantaged' service users in research. Drawing on the findings of a research project previously undertaken by the authors we look at the researchers’ experience of consulting 'disadvantaged' service users. Whilst 'disadvantaged' service users may be the most hard to involve, because of practical and or social barriers as well as the extra time and expertise needed by researchers, these services users must be involved in order to inform research, policy and service delivery.