This case study briefly describes how the team in Newcastle working on the Health Foundation’s MAGIC programme to implement shared decision making worked with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to spread shared decision making across the wider health and social care sector.

It describes how the PALS team supported the shared decision making work by:

• Identifying examples of good and ‘not so good’ practice for training and development purposes
• Explaining and publicising MAGIC during talks and visits throughout the local community
• Supporting individuals to ‘have a voice’ and be part of decisions about their care and treatment

In turn, the MAGIC programme supported PALS by:

• Validating the work and function of PALS and PALS staff
• Empowering PALS staff to do their work that is now underpinned by their knowledge and understanding of SDM
• Providing a framework for PALS to assist patients, their families and carers including use of Ask 3 Questions material
• Creating a focal point to raise challenges and concerns