Title of driver: Expert patients
Source: Reform
Link to main document: http://www.reform.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Expert-patients.pdf
Publication format: PDF
Date of publication: February 2015
Summary of driver: This report recommends stronger patient engagement in the NHS as it is key for the health service to achieve savings of £22 billion by 2020-21.
Patient engagement can improve outcomes and use of resources through patients being better able to manage their conditions, and so reducing medical interventions and invasive procedures, as well as improved public health.
Key features of driver:
- Patient engagement could achieve £2 billion savings by 2020-21 (10% of NHS England target savings).
- These savings would come from better self-care, improved public health, and greater patient contribution to their care.
- For the NHS to become fit for “full engagement” private providers and outside expertise will be needed.
- Outside the NHS, apps and social networking sites are already used by the public to take control over their health and conditions, helping the expert patient to emerge more quickly outside the NHS than within it. The NHS has made limited progress in the use of social media and technologies to improve the patient experience.
- NHS providers and commissioners should appoint a “Director of Patient Experience” at board level.
- The NHS should measure levels of patient engagement, activation and involvement and embrace patient engagement regardless of where it originates (whether outside the NHS or within).
Primary audience: Policy-makers, managers and leaders, commissioners, and NHS providers.
Impact on library policy/practice:
Libraries are in an ideal position to provide educational materials to enable patients to learn about their health and their conditions. Public libraries hold Books on Prescription and other resources while health libraries can support staff to educate patients.
Health libraries are also increasingly asked to provide resources or information for patients.
Libraries can adapt to the use of new technologies for customer service and can share expertise with the wider NHS.
Date last updated: February 2015
Due for review: February 2016
Group member responsible: (HS)
Tagged: Clinical commissioning, Consumer health information, Information for patients, Innovation, Quality and Improvement