Service user and carer involvement in physiotherapy practice, education and research: getting involved for a change

User involvement has become a dominant discourse in health and social care. Users are patients, carers or clients who are current or recent recipients of a service, or members of the public with an interest in the health of their communities. This distinction underlines the increasing concern of governments to involve citizens both in decisions about their individual care, and in collective decisions about the overall shape of services. Involvement is perceived to widen the views and experience informing decision-making; increase the acceptability of decisions made; and lead to more individual and community responsibility for health (WHO 2006). Physiotherapy forms part of the fabric of health provision and the profession needs to be aware of the drivers for involvement, and to be competent at involvement in all facets of its work.