Ann Keen

Sorry for the lack of posting yesterday - we’ll try and deliver a bumper post later in the week to make up for it.

Yesterday saw the launch of Self Care Week, which will run until November 15th and promote the knowledge people need to live a healthier life. High Quality Care for All put a strong emphasis on providing patients and the public with the information they need to make health decisions in their daily lives, and we’ve had big successes in the last year on this front - on smoking and on obesity, for instance, and with the continuing Change4Life scheme.

Self Care Week is part of that drive, and will encourage raised awareness of self care and how it can help everyone, including but not exclusively those with long-term or chronic conditions. By promoting the whole range of information and resources available - including NHS Choices [link] - and by explaining what care planning is and how new technology can assist people with self care, Self Care Week aims to empower the public to manage their own care.

This isn’t about reducing the responsibilities of the NHS - Personalised Care Plans, for example, are a big commitment the NHS has made to ensuring people with longterm conditions can better manage their care in partnership with their GPs and doctors. Self Care Week is about helping the public use and access healthcare better. To quote Health Minister Ann Keen: “As a nurse I’ve seen the difference it makes to patients’ wellbeing when they are well informed and involved in decisions about their care.”

Trusts up and down the country are holding events for Self Care Week - see if there are any you can take part in.