Doubts cast over patient power

27 Sep 07
The NHS is no more patient-centred than it was five years ago, despite policy reforms and funding increases, according to a study.

28 September 2007

The NHS is no more patient-centred than it was five years ago, despite policy reforms and funding increases, according to a study.

The report, from the independent charity the Picker Institute, says that in recent years there has been no improvement in involving patients in decision-making. A major challenge for the future is to involve patients more fully in their treatment, it says.

The September 21 report analysed the trends from national patient surveys in England between 2002 and 2007, covering more than 1.4 million patients.

Although patients spoke very positively of the quality of care and their trust in health professionals, between one third and one half said they were not as involved as they wanted to be in decisions about their own care. In 2006, 32% of primary care patients and 48% of hospital patients said they were not consulted as much as they would like.

Picker Institute chief executive Angela Coulter said: 'We know from the best international evidence that involving patients in decisions can create more satisfied patients, better health outcomes and a more appropriate use of health care resources.

'Engaged patients will, for example, stick to their chosen treatments better, take up appropriate screening, and on the whole choose less interventionist and therefore less costly treatment paths.'

PFsep2007

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