Doctors and other health professionals will prescribe information as well as pills under a new scheme launched by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt in response to public demand.
People with long term conditions or social care needs will receive “information prescriptions” to guide them to relevant information about their condition.
These individual prescriptions – drawing on local as well as national knowledge and information – will point people to the relevant websites, telephone numbers and support groups for their condition. They will help people with long-term conditions such as cancer, or mental health problems, feel more in control and better able to manage their condition and maintain their independence. The initiative was developed following consultation with the public as part of the Our health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper.
The announcement coincides with a Citizens Summit, led by Patricia Hewitt and her Ministerial team, taking place today, bringing together 90 people from across the country who took part in a similar exercise last year.
The event follows a commitment made by the Secretary of State to update participants of the previous Citizens Summit about improvements to health services and involve members of the public in the continuing debate.
Patricia Hewitt said:
“When we are ill we don’t want to have to trawl through endless websites or publications to find the help we need. We want to be able to lay our hands on the right information and advice as quickly as possible. Information prescriptions will give people quality information when they are diagnosed and throughout their care.
“Patients are used to medical prescriptions, but the idea of being given something similar about information for support services does not happen yet as a matter of course. This initiative will change that; after all, we know that when someone receives a diagnosis it can be difficult to fully take in and remember the information their doctor gives them at the time. But if people are able to learn more about their condition and treatment when they have had a chance to initially come to terms with the diagnosis, it can go a long way to reduce some of their fears.”