Patients are routinely asked for their feedback on the support they receive to self-care and its effectiveness through the GP Tracker Survey and the IPSOS MORI self-care survey.
The Department worked with Skills for Health and Skills for Care who published the “Common Core Principles to Support Self Care” (May 2008) setting out the skills attitudes and behaviours to support individuals to self-care. In addition a web-based training module for clinicians and other professionals is available through the national learning management system—“Supporting Self Care” was developed with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Department's e-learning for Healthcare.
Information for patients on self-care choices and service options has been made available with the development of “Your health, your way”. This web-based initiative on NHS Choices is supported by a patient information leaflet and information and resources for healthcare professionals. In the recent national Self Care Week (9-15 November 2009) which aimed to raise awareness of “Your health, your way” and the choices of self-care support available, visits to the website doubled.
The Department continues to support and engage with the Expert Patients programme as one of the options to provide education for people with long terms conditions (LTCs) that can help them access services more appropriately and to self-care more effectively. This is in addition to other choices of support in terms of information about the condition, tools and equipment to help people stay independent, access to support groups, and healthy lifestyle advice.
The Department's self-care strategy focuses on supporting people with LTCs through a process of care planning which enables them to take a more active and informed role in decisions about their health and well-being. This includes information, choices, shared decision making and ongoing support to self-care as part of a care planning discussion with their health-care professional. A personalised care plan, developed and regularly reviewed with a lead professional from among the team of staff who help manage their care will mean a person will have more control over the care packages they receive. In this way the chances of any unplanned emergencies or deterioration in that person's condition should be minimised. Information about care plans and care planning is included in the “Your health, your way” and self-care materials.