Partnership working and new roles and responsibilities

However you choose to define partnership working, it comes down to the changing relationship between patients and physicians. We're unlikely to see a sudden step change in patient behaviour but the degree of change for some physicians should not be underestimated. Montgomery has shone a spotlight on the cultural shift that lies at the heart of partnership working and, with it, a reminder of how challenging it is to communicate risk. Learning from the legal services sector reinforces the importance of this in the evolving role of the professional. Partnership working fundamentally comes down to the ability, skills and capacity to have a conversation. Better information has set a new framework for the conversation but, while essential for partnership, it is not a panacea. A conversation is needed in which a patient's thoughts, concerns and their preferences are placed equally alongside the clinician's expertise, experience and skills.