The UK's leading health care charities are joining forces for the first time to launch the People's Voice for Health (PV4H) campaign to challenge all health providers to commit to real change and to put patients at the heart of the NHS now.

The PV4H campaign is a direct response to the Government's NHS Plan. It acknowledges that the Government's recent modernisation of the NHS Plan was a step in the right direction and it welcomed the proposed patient involvement at national, health authority and local level. The People's Challenge asks health providers to sign up to three key statements that commit to a comprehensive NHS, available and accessible to all. Importantly, they are also asked to demonstrate their commitment by naming a new patient-centred initiative they will undertake as they move towards a more people orientated service.

PV4H has set up a website (http://www.pv4h.org.uk ) to enable health organisations and professionals to sign up immediately and to give details of their initiatives. In addition, the campaign is distributing thousands of the The People's Challenge cards across the country for signing and return. The general public is also encouraged to register support on the website, by letter or by calling 020 7813 3645.