Self Care: A Priority for 2008
Helena Jordan, National Project Manager, Self Care for Primary Care
Self Care has been in the news and is set to feature predominantly on the Government's healthcare policy map for 2008 and beyond. In early January, Gordon Brown, in his first major speech on the NHS since becoming prime minister, set out his vision of a health service that is personal to the patient and more focused on preventing disease. Self care, supported by information and advice from healthcare professionals was a major theme of his speech. We take a look at the new plans announced by Mr Brown and how self care is moving up the government's healthcare agenda.
Self care was a major theme of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s New Year message on the NHS.
The word "information" appeared three times in the 1,000 word statement which made clear that patients and the public would in future be expected to be more informed and to do more to look after themselves.
Mr Brown said: "We need an NHS that gives all of those with long-term or chronic conditions the choice of greater support, information and advice, allowing them to play a far more active role in managing their own condition in partnership with their clinicians."
"And even when healthy, we know all of us will benefit from earlier information about potential health risks and advice on how we can keep ourselves fit and well."
New plans announced
In his speech on the National Health Service, Mr Brown announced plans for:
- New access to check ups (to monitor in particular for heart disease, strokes, diabetes an kidney disease)
- New access to screening and preventive vaccines (screening to include ultrasound tests to detect early abdominal aneurysm and other tests to identify vulnerability to heart and circulation problems)
- 'Active patient' programmes, particularly for older people
- A new patient prospectus for expert patients.
- New help for individuals and families to encourage them to lead healthier lives
Looking at improving physical activity he announced measures:
- To offer children at least five hours sport a week
- Increase physical activity prescriptions on the NHS
- Improve the accessibility of gyms and other sporting facilities
Tackling 'lifestyle diseases'
Measures to tackle 'lifestyle diseases' included patients:
- Managing their own conditions;
- Taking advantage of support offered by GPs and nurses in the home or in the surgery
- Exercising more control over their lives and care
- Becoming more focused on what they eat and whether they participate in sports and exercise....more conscious of their own choices, and encouraged and better supported in making them.
- Staying active in old age
"This means an NHS which ...identifies your clinical needs earlier than before, is targeted to keeping you healthy and fit, and puts you far more in control of your own health and your own life. And in the long run a preventive service personal to your needs is beneficial not just to individuals but to all of us as we reduce the costs of disease," said Mr Brown.
New role for health professionals
He also outlined a new role for healthcare professionals using evidence-based practice to become "champions and advocates" of more empowered patients: "..the doctor not just physician but adviser; the nurse not just carer but trainer; patients more than consumers... partners."
More details of these reforms will be set out in Professor Ara Darzi's review of the NHS due to be published later this year.
Mr Brown concluded: "So even when we are healthy we should have access to information about our risks -- and advice on how we can maintain our health. That is the kind of real control the NHS must give us all if we are to have a service fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
Full details of Mr Brown's speech can be found here.
Self Care Connect helping to meet the challenge
As the world's first interactive, online self care resource and networking organisation for self care, Self Care Connect will help health professionals rise to the challenge laid down by the Prime Minister. The site looks beyond supporting long term conditions and considers how professionals can support a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
At the launch of Self Care Connect three months ago, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said "Resources like Self Care Connect will play an important role in ensuring that everyone has access to better information." With the help and engagement of our users, Self Care Connect can help to share that information and promote best practice which will ultimately support patients to take more responsibility for their health.
What do you think about Gordon Brown's plans for the NHS and the focus on self care?
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