Personalised Care In The NHS Long Term Plan

Personalised Care As Identified In The NHS Long Term Plan 2019 Promo

Personalised care as identified in the NHS Long Term Plan (2019) promotes the nurse to consider the ‘person’ as opposed to the ‘patient’ (NHS England, 2019; Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], 2018). In doing so, you will need to use appropriate communication skills and interpersonal skills to support and enable the person to make informed choices within their episodes of care. This assessment will centre around a person’s story of an episode of care (services provided to a patient within a specific period across a continuum of care in an integrated system). You will need to choose one story/experience and address the assessment criteria set out under ‘Assessment Criteria’.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The shift towards personalised care within the NHS, as articulated in the 2019 Long Term Plan, signifies a transformative approach aimed at redefining patient engagement, care delivery, and health outcomes. Moving beyond traditional models that treat patients as mere recipients of care, the emphasis now is on recognizing each individual as a unique person with distinct needs, preferences, and circumstances. This paradigm underscores the importance of person-centred communication and interpersonal skills, ensuring that patients are active participants in their health journey. This paper explores the principles of personalised care as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, analyzes a real-life healthcare episode exemplifying these principles, and critically assesses how effective communication and interpersonal skills can facilitate informed decision-making in a comprehensive and integrated care setting.

Understanding the NHS Long Term Plan’s Vision for Personalised Care

The NHS Long Term Plan (2019) emphasizes a shift from reactive, disease-focused care to proactive, holistic, and personalised approaches. Central to this vision is the recognition that healthcare should be tailored to the individual's specific needs, preferences, and life circumstances. Personalised care encompasses various initiatives such as shared decision-making, supported self-management, and collaborative care planning. These initiatives aim to improve health outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and promote independence. The plan advocates for the integration of services across primary, secondary, and community care, fostering a seamless continuum that treats the patient as a whole person rather than disconnected parts of a system.

The role of nurses in implementing personalised care is pivotal. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses must develop advanced communication skills, emotional intelligence, and cultural competence to foster trust and rapport. These skills enable nurses to elicit patients’ stories effectively, understand their values, and collaborate to develop care plans aligned with their wishes (NMC, 2018). The focus is on empowerment—supporting patients to make informed choices about their care pathways and ensuring their voices are heard in every stage of the healthcare process.

Circumstances and Case Study Selection

To illustrate the application of these principles, a detailed review of a chosen patient’s care episode will be provided. The experience selected will reflect a typical scenario where personalised care approaches are integral, such as managing a chronic condition like diabetes or supporting elderly patients with complex health needs. The case will highlight interactions, decision-making processes, and the use of communication skills to enable patient autonomy within an integrated care framework.

Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Personalised Care

Effective communication is fundamental to delivering personalised care. Nurses must employ active listening, empathetic engagement, and clear, jargon-free language to build trust with patients. As noted by the NMC (2018), communication extends beyond verbal exchanges; non-verbal cues, tone, and body language significantly influence patient understanding and comfort. Interpersonal skills such as compassion, patience, and cultural sensitivity are crucial to establish meaningful therapeutic relationships. These skills help identify patient preferences, barriers to care, and social determinants affecting health outcomes.

Supporting Informed Decision-Making

Informed decision-making requires that nurses provide comprehensive, understandable information about the patient's condition, treatment options, risks, and benefits. This process involves assessing the patient’s health literacy levels and tailoring communication accordingly (NHS England, 2019). Techniques such as the teach-back method, open-ended questions, and reassurance foster clarity and confidence, empowering patients to choose care pathways aligned with their values and circumstances.

Case Example: Person-Centred Care in Practice

Consider a 65-year-old with type 2 diabetes approaching discharge after hospitalization for a foot ulcer. The nurse initiates a person-centred dialogue, exploring the patient’s daily routines, dietary habits, and concerns about managing lifestyle changes. Using empathetic listening, the nurse identifies cultural dietary preferences and potential barriers such as limited family support. The nurse discusses medication management, glucose monitoring, and foot care options, ensuring the patient understands each aspect. By employing visual aids and simple language, the nurse enhances comprehension. The patient is encouraged to express preferences and concerns, leading to a collaboratively developed care plan that respects their cultural background and autonomy.

This approach exemplifies the principles of personalised care, where the patient's story guides tailored interventions, and effective communication ensures informed choices. The nurse’s interpersonal skills foster trust, adherence, and a sense of partnership, ultimately improving health outcomes.

Impact and Challenges of Implementing Personalised Care

Implementing personalised care at scale offers numerous benefits such as increased patient satisfaction, better adherence, and improved health outcomes. However, challenges include resource constraints, workload pressures, and variability in healthcare professional training. Developing consistent, skilled communication and interpersonal competencies among staff is essential. This requires ongoing education, organisational support, and fostering a culture that prioritizes person-centred values.

Conclusion

The NHS Long Term Plan’s emphasis on personalised care signifies a fundamental shift towards more compassionate, inclusive, and effective healthcare. Nurses play a vital role in operationalizing these principles through skilled communication and interpersonal engagement, supporting patients to make informed decisions within an integrated care system. A real-world case demonstrates how person-centred approaches foster trust, respect, and better health outcomes. Future effortsmust focus on addressing systemic barriers and ensuring all healthcare professionals are equipped to deliver truly personalised care, reflecting the NHS’s commitment to putting individuals at the heart of healthcare.

References

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