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Is it possible to use the digitisation of the NHS to reach the furthest first?
The health and care system has historically been reliant on paper for sharing information about patients. Digitisation is inevitably changing that, but what impact does that have on those who are marginalised?
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Strategic and potential transformational engagement in communities is rarely successful because there is no methodology that first builds trust, respect and relationships with people.
If you are interested in a method that works please take a look at rslm.org and regeneratetrust.org.
In partnership with Brighton University we can move mountains with the resource.
The question is: are the agencies ready to engage so that power can intelligently shift to make the NHS a people's organisation again. And what if marketisation and the impact of the economies of scale on local people that want to help run services?
Intelligently shift power and of not if.
In an supposed outcomes based system we still seem fixated by form not function. Patients want quality care that's less fragmented and don't care for more acronyms nor the health and social care divide. Only yesterday did I note that the NHS England Innovator programme consists of mainly senior docs. That's great but where are other health & social care workers and or course users. The talk has never been louder, the walk is sadly a limp at best. Here's to The King's Fund setting an example as we did there in the late '90s by ensuring every event and publication they issue can boast the 'Patients Included' logo. Yours tiredly, MD
This isn't just investment in monetary terms, this is an investment of time and energy with support needed from many partners including the third sector and housing federations, both of whom play a vital role.
My experience of working across the north of England as a lead for the wider personalisation agenda and Improved patient experience has taught me that national policy and rehetoric has a long journey yet to travel in activating local commissioners to make radical and difficult decisions in turning the tide. I read a quite recently and apologise in advance for not remembering the author, but I quote 'professionals need to get down from their pedestals and patients need to get up from their needs'. I acknowledge that this does not apply to all as there are some fantastic examples of change emerging, we just need to harness and spread these examples and keep the conversation going ... LOUD & CLEAR.
What a very sad reflection all this has on our leaders and senior managers. When will someone have what it takes to grab the problem by the scruff of the neck and do the job they are paid to do for us and do it well?
If our 'system' is the envy of the world, God help the others, albeit there are some pockets of great expertise and dedication.
Gone should be the days of group hugs and persuasion, lets really give the public what is required, what we pay them to do and indeed to show that they really do care.
You could not be more spot on. I fully agree that NHS has created a dependency in the public. I can write a book on it from my day to day hands on experience with patients. Something as simple as, when seeing any medical case in grey area, when and if I ask the patient what " would you like" from options x, y, z? The reply I get is" you are the doctor"
In all the reformations, the most important and fundamental step of self responsibility, self care and patient engagement is missing. Our patients do not even know their medications, I am talking of the simplest ones. When I ask, " so what did the specialist tell you"? The reply I get is,"oh, I do not know"?
I am not surprised that young and old alike forget what has been said to them and their medications forgotten for this very good reason. Some specialists/doctors tell them little - they are often found head in a computer screen writing up notes rather than communicating.
There will always be the exceptions of course.
When the roles are reversed and the doctor becomes the patient there is often a little more understanding.
'duty of care legal definition of duty of care'
a requirement that a person act toward others and the public with watchfulness, attention, caution and prudence that a reasonable person in the circumstances would if a person's actions do not meet this standard of care then the acts are considered negligent and any damages resulting may be claimed in a lawsuit for negligence'.
The Guardian article of the 18th February 2015 should be read, and then understand why the paragraph above was included in my response.
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