Greater choice over how people are looked after.
Milton Keynes residents who live with physical or mental health conditions have been urged to consider what personalised care could do to improve their wellbeing.
The call comes as the national ‘Personalised Care Week’ of awareness ends today.
Personalised care represents a new relationship between people, professionals and the health and care system. This sort of care gives people greater control and choice over how their care is planned and delivered, based on their unique circumstances, needs and preferences.
In its simplest form, personalised care is based around asking people what matters to them, rather than what is the matter with them.
“It is so important that we as clinicians work with our patients to address what matters to them,” said Dr Andrew Rochford, chief medical officer for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board.
“For some people, greater personalisation might mean social prescribing, which is where a patient is offered an introduction to a charity or community group which offers a service which meets their needs.
“Locally we have an ever-growing range of projects. Art and craft groups can help people remain socially active and using their hands, which can be important for those with arthritis and similar conditions. There’s also a gardening group which meets at a heritage railway station to help its volunteers maintain the grounds.
“For others, it might mean using AI technologies to work on their mental health or to help manage any long-term physical conditions they’ve been diagnosed with. It gives patients a more active role in managing their own health, based on what matters most to them.
“The NHS’s aspiration is that this sort of care becomes the norm for everyone, especially with the forthcoming shift from sickness to prevention, so we’re using Personalised Care Week to raise awareness and prompt discussions on our social media channels.”
