Practice development in substance misuse services: changing the patient experience of services

This article is an honest account of the practice development unit (PDU) journey undertaken by a substance misuse service in North-West Wales. The sustainability of such initiatives is also examined and the positive effect upon the workforce that the PDU journey can achieve is also discussed. Resistance to change within the workforce and from the employing organization is also considered, and the innovative responses to these hurdles. Inviting service users to become actively involved in the development of services can be a powerful force for sustainable changes. The involvement of individuals who have been service users is a way of contributing to the process of developing services in a creative and innovative way that strives to ensure appropriateness and quality. The issues around vulnerability and the responsibilities placed upon service providers to minimize pressure on patients are discussed. The article also identifies ways of harnessing this positive energy and the utilization of valued and varied personal experiences of clients, both of which result in empowerment of clients. The aim of the article was to provide insights into all of these aspects of the PDU journey in order to offer support for others about to embark upon it. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.