FYI
May be of interest to some of you. Press Release below on new 'individual prescriptions' which will help provide more information on condition and according to the English Department of Health will promote greater empowerment for patients
Best wishes
David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care
Press Release
Wednesday 18 October 2006 10:04
Department of Health
Tomorrow's patients will have information prescribed alongside medicines
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=235190&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False
Patients are soon to be prescribed information from their doctor as well as medicines, empowering people to take control of their own illness, under a new initiative launched today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton. As patients only remember on average 10% of consultations, having a list of specific information resources relevant to individual circumstances will help people to seek further information and make choices about their health care.
These individual prescriptions - drawing on local as well as national knowledge and information - will point people to the relevant websites, telephone numbers and support groups for their condition. They will help people with long-term conditions such as cancer, or mental health problems, to stay independent and take control of their illness.
Over the summer the Department has been consulting on the opportunities to increase choice beyond elective care. Many respondents were favour of giving people more choice in other service areas, in particular greater involvement in decisions made about their treatment and care. Easy access to high quality information is essential to support choice and information prescriptions will point people to:
Information about conditions and treatments
Information from voluntary organisations
Where to get benefits advice
Contact details for local and national support groups
Local places to exercise
Internet discussion groups on their condition
Contact details for home care services
Useful books and library locations.
Health Minister Rosie Winterton today launched a series of pilots to trial this new idea, to be run in partnership with voluntary organisations like Cancerbackup and Macmillan Cancer Support. The initiative, which has funding of £1.35 million, will initially focus on cancer and mental health and later on vulnerable older people, and will run until the end of 2007.
The 2006 White Paper Our Health Our Care Our Say contained a commitment to introduce Information Prescriptions for everyone with a long term condition or care need by 2008. Also published today was 'Making it Happen', a report updating on progress made with the White Paper.
Speaking at a visit to Oldchurch Hospital in Romford, Rosie Winterton said:
"We are all busy people. We don't want to have to trawl through endless websites or publications to find the help we need. We want to be able to lay our hands on the right information and advice as quickly as possible, and this is even more important when you have a long-term condition and every minute is precious. People have told us that they wanted information that meets their needs as individuals - not according to organisational boundaries.
"I want to help patients to help themselves. Better access to information at the point of diagnosis and throughout the care pathway will empower people to manage their condition more effectively, taking greater control over their own lives."
Joanne Rule, Cancerbackup Chief Executive said:
"We are delighted to be involved in this excellent initiative. As a charity specialising in providing information to people affected by cancer, we are very aware of the difference being informed makes to a patient's life. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be extremely frightening. Being offered accurate independent information will help people regain some control about their treatment and cancer journey."
Peter Cardy, Chief Executive, Macmillan Cancer Support, said,
"This is a pioneering scheme and we are really pleased to be involved. Cancer patients have a variety of information needs - a cancer diagnosis can be sudden and involves decisions about treatment and care, and information prescriptions would be very welcome. Macmillan has already begun working in this area and we are looking forward to drawing on our experience to help shape the structure and delivery of this service.
"We know there is a great need for information out there - Macmillan's latest research has shown that three quarters of cancer patients wanted information on their medical condition and, sadly, one in six patients were not able to get it. Hopefully information prescriptions will address this unmet need."
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