Tailor-made information will help patients take control of their treatment
Doctors and other health professionals will prescribe information as well as pills under a new scheme launched today by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt in response to public demand. People with long term conditions or social care needs will receive "information prescriptions" to guide them to relevant information about their condition.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Doctors and other health professionals will prescribe information as well as pills under a new scheme launched today by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt in response to public demand. People with long term conditions or social care needs will receive "information prescriptions" to guide them to relevant information about their condition.
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, feel more in control and better able to manage their condition and maintain their independence. The initiative was developed following consultation with the public as part of the Our health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper.
The announcement coincides with a Citizens Summit, led by Patricia Hewitt and her Ministerial team, taking place today, bringing together 90 people from across the country who took part in a similar exercise last year.
The event follows a commitment made by the Secretary of State to update participants of the previous Citizens Summit about improvements to health services and involve members of the public in the continuing debate.
Patricia Hewitt said: "When we are ill 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. Information prescriptions will give people quality information when they are diagnosed and throughout their care.
"Patients are used to medical prescriptions, but the idea of being given something similar about information for support services does not happen yet as a matter of course. This initiative will change that; after all, we know that when someone receives a diagnosis it can be difficult to fully take in and remember the information their doctor gives them at the time. But if people are able to learn more about their condition and treatment when they have had a chance to initially come to terms with the diagnosis, it can go a long way to reduce some of their fears."
She added: "Genuine patient-centred care can only happen if we listen to the people who use NHS services. That is why we embarked on the biggest ever engagement exercise in the history of the NHS to develop our White Paper. But listening to the public isn't a one-off - it has to be a regular exercise which is why I am reconvening with participants today. I look forward to an interesting and constructive day."
Patricia Hewitt also announced a series of pilots to trial this new idea, to be run in partnership with voluntary organisations like Cancerbacup and Macmillan Cancer Support.
David Pink, Chief Executive of the Long-term Conditions Alliance, says:
"People need good information to make the most of their lives if they have long-term conditions. Health voluntary organisations have led the way in developing high quality information. We are very excited that we can now work in partnership with the NHS to provide information prescriptions for many more people."
Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and one of the pilot sites, says:
"We are delighted to be part of this pilot scheme and we believe it will benefit our patients greatly. It is important that patients get the information they need, when they need it. This scheme allows us to tailor and develop information for them, when they express an interest in accessing it. It allows us to assess the individual needs of patients and give them the correct information at the appropriate time about their cancer, treatment options and the supportive care available to them.
"Initially we will be starting this initiative by looking at the information available for patients with prostate cancer before rolling it out to include all other types of cancer."
Notes to editors
1. The 2006 White Paper 'Our Health Our Care Our Say' committed the government to introducing Information Prescriptions ( ch 5.24 ). 'Making it Happen' progress report can be found on http://www.dh.gov.uk.
2. Once information prescriptions are launched nationwide in 2008, all people with long-term medical conditions will be clearer about the content and outcome of discussions with health professionals. The project will also empower patients to pursue these practical issues for themselves and provide help and guidance for the longer term, rather than solely at the time of their initial diagnosis.
Information prescriptions could point people to: - 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.
Once information prescriptions are launched nationwide in 2008, all people with long-term medical conditions will be clearer about the content and outcome of discussions with health professionals. The project will also empower patients to pursue these practical issues for themselves and provide help and guidance for the longer term, rather than solely at the time of their initial diagnosis.
3. The 20 pilot sites are:
Cancer:
1. County Durham Primary Care Trust Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre
This pilot is based at the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, and will develop information prescriptions for people with cancer, delivering the prescriptions through GPs and district nurses.
2. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Queen Elizabeth Hospital
This pilot site is developing information prescriptions for people with cancer in the field of non surgical oncology. It is based on the hospital site, and information prescriptions will be delivered by clinicians.
3. Mid Trent Cancer Network Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Piloting in a range of areas covered by the Mid Trent Cancer Network, information prescriptions are being developed for people with cancer. Information prescriptions will be delivered by clinical nurse specialists, and focus on palliative care, head and neck, lung and gynaecological cancers.
4. Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
This pilot is addressing complex cancer care, and will be delivered by clinicians within the hospital.
Mental health and vulnerable older people
5. Doncaster Primary Care Trust
Developing information prescriptions for people with common mental health problems, which will be delivered by case managers in a variety of settings.
6. South Staffordshire healthcare NHS foundation trust
Information prescriptions will be delivered through a community based project providing support for young people with mental health problems.
7. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Delivered through a community focused mental health ward, this pilot will develop information prescriptions for people over 65 with mental health problems.
8. Suffolk County Council
This pilot will deliver information prescriptions through community care practitioners, social workers and district nurses for older people with long term conditions.
9. Isle of Wight Council
This pilot develops information prescriptions for older people with mental health problems and will be delivered through care managers, GPs and voluntary agencies.
10. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
The West Midlands Adult Cystic fibrosis centre is based in Heartlands hospital, and contains both in and outpatient wards. This pilot site will focus on developing information prescriptions for people with cystic fibrosis.
11. Diabetes UK and Hammersmith and Fulham PCT
Led by Diabetes UK, Asthma UK and Arthritis Care in conjunction with Hammersmith and Fulham PCT, this pilot will be developing information prescriptions for those with diabetes, asthma and arthritis. Information prescriptions will be delivered in primary care, through GP surgeries and pharmacies.
12. Manchester City Council and Manchester Primary Care Trust
A whole systems approach to long term conditions that is not focusing on a specific group or care setting. The pilot will work with Manchester City Council and PCT, Manchester library services, advice services and voluntary agencies.
13. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust ( North Tyneside General Hospital ) and Parkinson's Disease Society
This pilot will develop information prescriptions for people with Parkinson's and their carers, which will be delivered in primary, secondary and tertiary care in the Northumbria area.
14. RNIB and Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority
A pilot site working to develop information prescriptions for people with sight loss, delivered in conjunction with PCTs in the Leeds area. Information prescriptions will be delivered in a variety of health and social care settings.
15. Oxfordshire County Council working with Oxford Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
This pilot site will develop information prescriptions for the deaf and hard of hearing through the Oxford Centre for the Deaf and hard of Hearing. The pilot will be working to deliver information prescriptions through audiologists and the hearing impairment team, in collaboration with primary care and voluntary organisations.
16. Leeds Mental Health Trust
The pilot will develop information prescriptions for older people with mental health problems, and specifically that of dementia. Information prescriptions will be delivered through the trust's 'care programme approach.'
17. Evelina Childrens Hospital, Guys and St Thomas NHS foundation Trust
Working to develop information prescriptions for children with a particular focus on the appropriate use of medicines. Information prescriptions will be delivered in secondary care through the hospital and in primary care through community pharmacy practices. The long term conditions covered will include epilepsy, renal transplants, asthma and cardiac problems.
18. Oxleas NHS foundation trust
This pilot site will develop information prescriptions for people with long-term complex conditions including long term psychosis and concomitant substance misuse. Information prescriptions will be delivered in the Bromley complex needs services through care co-ordinators.
19. Darlington Primary Care Trust
Developing the role of PALS managers in delivering information prescriptions, this pilot will focus on diabetes, COPD, depression and long term neurological conditions.
20. South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Information prescriptions will be developed for complex mental health conditions including Huntingdons disease, Aspergers syndrome, Obsessive compulsive disorder and manic depression through the Adult Mental Health Assertive Outreach Service.
4. Public enquiries to 020 7210 4850.
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