Why is personalisation in health and care so important?
In his speech at the 2014 NHS Confederation Conference, Simon Stevens, the then Chief Executive of NHS England said:
“We stand of the cusp of a revolution in the role that patients – and also communities – will play in their own health and care. Harnessing what I’ve called this renewable energy is potentially the make it or break-it difference between the NHS being sustainable or not.”
11 years later, and at a time when it was never more needed, that revolution is finally starting to gain momentum, driven by personalised and strength-based approaches to health and care that are being adopted and embedded across health and care provision.
At its core, personalised care is about creating a better relationship between people, health and care professionals, and the wider healthcare system.
It shifts power and decision-making to the person, ensuring their voice is heard and that they are connected to others and to community resources.
Importantly, personalised care is about the whole health and care system working together. Health, social care, public health, and wider services, working with each other to support people.
Personalised care supports people at every stage of life, from being born to growing older. It supports both physical and mental health, and it recognises the vital role of carers.
This approach also values the role of communities and the voluntary and community sector in supporting people and building resilience.
Systematically implementing person-centred and strength-based practice has far -reaching benefits for people and communities, as well as health and care professionals, services, and the wider Lincolnshire system.
When done well, personalised care leads to better health and wellbeing outcomes and experiences, more efficient use of health and care services, and reduced health inequalities.
Personalisation is therefore at the heart of Lincolnshire’s health and care strategy and a key component of both the Better Lives Lincolnshire Integrated Care Partnership Strategy and the NHS Lincolnshire Joint Forward Plan.
Personalisation is key to quality health and care
To achieve the goals set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, it is essential to integrate personalised care into all services.
Evidence consistently shows that personalised care leads to improved health outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, and better adherence to treatments.
It prioritises individuals in the decision-making process, giving them the empowerment to manage their own health while ensuring services are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.
However, without a focused strategy to equip healthcare and social care professionals with the right skills through thorough training and education, these ambitions may not be fully realised.
The challenges facing our health and social care systems are well-known - rising rates of chronic conditions, growing health inequalities, mounting pressure on services, and the need for a better relationship between people and the services that support them all underscore the urgent need for effective, sustainable solutions.
DOWNLOAD our The Case for Personalisation document to read more about:
- The need for a new relationship between people and health and care
- Today’s health challenges
- The importance of non-clinical support
- Health inequalities we need to tackle
Personalised care is a key solution to the challenges facing our health and social care systems, as highlighted by Lord Darzi’s call for empowering patients to take more control over their health.
Additionally, personalised care aligns with the vision of Integrated Care Systems, aiming to provide seamless, integrated care that addresses the diverse needs of local communities.
Personalisation is a key element of both the Better Lives Lincolnshire Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Strategy and the NHS Lincolnshire Joint Forward Plan 2023 – 2028:
Better Lives Lincolnshire ICP Strategy: Personalisation is one of the strategy’s five strategic enablers.
NHS Lincolnshire Joint Forward Plan: ‘A better relationship with the public’ is Priority 1, and underpins all other strategy priorities.
Personalised care works - the evidence
The evidence base for personalised care continues to grow, demonstrating a positive impact on people, the health and care workforce, the broader system, and finances.
Shared decision making between people and health and care professionals about their tests, treatments and support options leads to more realistic expectations, a better match between people’ values and treatment choices, and fewer unnecessary interventions.
Personalised care also has a positive impact on health inequalities, taking account of different backgrounds and preferences, with people from lower socioeconomic groups able to benefit the most from personalised care.
DOWNLOAD our Evidence of Personalisation Impacts document to read more about personalised care approaches are:
- Supporting the creation of a better relationship between people and health and care providers
- Reducing pressure on services
- Tackling health inequalities
