Care Planning3 Mar 2010

An article from our January newsletter

The Year of Care may be over but Care Planning is alive and well and on many Agendas.  The days of doctors and nurses telling patients exactly what to do and expecting them to carry out the instructions are well past.

Patients are now the centre of the decision making process.  In future, doctors and nurses will explain to patient what the options are both verbally and in writing, but it is the patient who will decide on how to go forward.

For instance, in diabetes, a patient may have problems with glycæmic control, blood pressure, weight and may smoke.  After having the various "ins and outs" explained, the patient may decide that they do not feel that they can give up smoking at present.  Therefore no time and money is spent on a fruitless appointment at the "Quit smoking" clinic.  However, they may feel really motivated to lose weight.  This would have a beneficial effect on their glycæmic control and blood pressure.  Therefore, it is worth making and appointment with the dietitian.  Also, having made the decision, the patient feels to have ownership and, hopefully, dieting is more likely to be successful.

So there is a change from, "these are the problems - this is what I think you should do" to "these are the problems - which of them do you think you would like to address?"

It may take longer but consultations should be more fulfilling.