Health service is still not meeting patient priorities

The report, by Professor Sheila Leatherman of The University of North Carolina and Kim Sutherland of The University of Cambridge, is the first time the scattered evidence on patient views has been brought together in one place. 

Entitled ‘Patient and Public Experience of the NHS’, the report uses over 40 different charts to give a comprehensive assessment of the Government’s efforts to create a patient-led NHS.

Kim Sutherland, co-author of the report said: "In recent years, a multitude of policy documents have asserted that the NHS should become more patient-centred. We wanted to explore the extent to which this has been achieved."

She continued: "The Government's attempts to make the NHS more responsive to patient and the public have been a fundamental and much needed change.

"What is clear from our study is that a truly patient-centred NHS would place a higher priority on communicating and giving information, shared decision-making, and treating patients as individuals. We hope that our findings can have a positive impact in bringing about this change."

Stephen Thornton, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, also highlighted the important findings of the report and the Health Foundation's own efforts to increase patient engagement.

“This valuable report shows that when Government concentrates on what patient and the public want great improvements can be made – as can be seen through the dramatic reduction in waiting times," he said. "It’s now time for the Government to make good on its commitments to increase patient engagement in the NHS."

Focusing on the Foundation's work in partnership with managers and clinicans he added: “We are not only calling for change, we are investing money in stimulating that change. Focusing on listening and communicating better with patients, we are announcing the launch of a new £4.95 million initiative, Co-creating Health."

“Today’s report shows that fewer than a third of people with chronic long term conditions are being helped to manage their health on a day-to-day basis.

"Co-creating Health will transform care for these people. Working with pioneering healthcare organisations, their medical staff and patients across the UK, we aim to change the doctor/patient relationship and help patients become experts in their own health.”