NHS promotes self-care
pharmafile | November 30, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â NHS, chronic, self careÂ
The NHS has run its first national week of events promoting the benefits for people in taking control of their own wellbeing.
Self Care Week, which ran until 15 November, saw NHS Trusts highlight the information and resources that are available to patients all year round.
Much of the emphasis was on persuading people that self-care is not just important for those with long term and chronic health conditions.
However, there are currently over 15 million people in England with a chronic or long-term condition, such as asthma, stroke, diabetes, COPD, hypertension, mental health and respiratory problems.
This number is predicted to rise to 18 million over the next decade, with more people living with three or more such conditions.
Promoting lifestyle changes, regular exercise for individuals and families and the role of new technology in self-care were among Self Care Week’s educational elements.
Access to the NHS Choices website, especially to the Department of Health guide to self care, called ‘Your health, your way’, was flagged up too.
The week also aimed to encourage patients with long term conditions to discuss a care plan with their GP or nurse.
“As a nurse I’ve seen the difference it makes to patients’ wellbeing when they are well informed and involved in decisions about their care,” said health minister Ann Keen.
Such activity chimes with government moves to personalise healthcare following Lord Darzi’s 2008 ‘High Quality Care for All’ document on the future of the NHS in England.
For example, the NHS is already piloting personal health budgets across 70 English sites, giving patients the freedom to choose the support services they want.
And the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review affirmed the government’s commitment to everyone with a long-term condition being offered a personalised care plan by 2010.
Charities including Men’s Health Forum are involved with Self Care Week, as is Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, who lives with Spina Bifida.
“This is a real opportunity for patients, carers and healthcare professionals to focus on the important issue of self care for people living with a long term condition,” she said.
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