No decision about me, without me - Department of Health

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decision. This is backed up by the right in the Constitution to “be involved in discussions and decisions about your healthcare, and to be given information to enable you to do this” 15 . 2.19 We are also clear that commissioners of health and care services should recognise the benefits of ensuring appropriate information and communication support being made available for those who need it. This may include the use of a translator service for those where English is not their first language, or considering alternative forms of information. 2.20 We recognise that each patient will have specific needs in terms of information and support. While we cannot account for every circumstance, we strongly encourage commissioners to consider individual needs, in line with the relevant duties in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 Act 16 to reduce inequalities between patients with respect to the accessibility of health services, and the outcomes achieved by the provision of those services. 2.21 We also acknowledge the importance of ensuring that no one should be disadvantaged as a result of the chosen means of providing information. For example, some rural communities may lack access to the internet, and in some cases may lack the skills to go online. Action is being taken by, the Government and a range of partners to address these issues, but we also recognise that alternative means of communication and information provision may also need to be considered in certain circumstances 2.22 Many community organisations exist to meet the needs of people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged or, because of cultural issues, face barriers when accessing state or publicly run services and do not receive the support they need. We encourage GPs and clinical commissioning groups to consider the role of the voluntary sector, especially when they are in a position to offer bettertargeted information. “A focus on education and new forms of information and information channels will be required as people could not make informed decisions if they do not have the right information.” [SHA Long Term Conditions Leads] 2.23 Further, local Healthwatch will have an important role in providing, or signposting, people and carers to information about local health and care services and how best to access these services. It will have a seat on the new health and wellbeing boards, ensuring that the views and experiences of 15 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_1 32961 16 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/pdfs/ukpga_20120007_en.pdf; 14T 11
patients, carers and other service users are taken into account when local needs assessments and strategies are prepared. Local Healthwatch will also be able to help and support clinical commissioning groups to make sure that services really are designed to meet citizens’ needs. 2.24 Many respondents specifically welcomed the steps proposed in the consultation to achieve equal opportunities for choice for users of mental health services, wherever possible. “The focus on mental health in the consultation is welcome. As the document itself recognises, this is an area of health care where progress on real patient choice has often fallen behind” [Independent Mental Health Services Alliance] “We agree that it is important that where possible the choices available to patients using secondary care are also available to patients who undergoing treatment for mental health issues.” [The Patients Association] 2.25 The Health and Social Care Act 2012 made it clear that a comprehensive health service must address both the physical and mental health needs of patients in England. Section 1of the NHS Act 2006 now states that the National Health Service should improve both the physical and mental health of the population and that it should give equal priority to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of both physical and mental illness. Information 2.26 Many responses to the consultation highlighted the importance of providing information for people to be able to make informed decisions. “The consultation document rightly notes the importance of good quality information to enable patients to become actively involved in decisions about their care.” [Specialised Healthcare Alliance] 2.27 We agree that central to the vision of patient-centred care, is the principle of providing a wide range of appropriate, accessible and timely information enabling people to make informed decisions. From April 2011, providers have been required to publish information about their services so that people can use this to make informed choices about their healthcare 17 . As we explain above, the NHS Constitution 18 sets out the right for people to make choices about their NHS care and to information to support these choices. 17 The Operating Framework for the NHS in England, Department of Health, December 2010 18 http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh _132958.pdf 12
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Page 6 and 7: 1. Introduction 1.1 This document s
Page 8 and 9: 1.10 In total, 172 valid 9 response
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No decision about me, without me - Department of Health

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