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I suspect, like many others, I have some doubts and wouldn't need much encouragement to do a little carping.

However, this is where we are, and I wish the White Paper God's speed. It could just change things for the better.

My main interest is in mental health services. The commitments to put the patient front and centre encourages me enormously, as does the adoption of 'no decisions about me without me'. Something similar was first the credo of patients and carers in learning disability services, I think. It didn't take mental health long to spot a good thing, and take it up with passion.

The commitment of MH services to the call was universal, but too often tokenistic.

Although the NSF for adult mental health brought many improvements, users and carers can still encounter serious, and seemingly intractable problems. The most serious can involve access, even at times of crisis. The possibility of patients, families and wider carers identifying those services that perform well and choosing to be cared for by them if and when the need arises, would bring huge peace of mind to many.

It goes without saying that the 'inormation revolution' to support this empowerment will need to be just that, and that, in mental health means, patient orgaisation validated and 'kite marked'.