The more you understand and help manage your own health care the better. There is good evidence that better involvement results in highly significant reductions in adverse events. The NHS is promoting this wholeheartedly as it also has massive potential for efficiency savings. It never was the case that medical care was best left to the professionals who knew the definitive answers. Doctors report higher satisfaction from consultations where the patient is more able to engage in discussing the management of their situation.
The Health Foundations co-creating health project is finding that people get better quality of life by taking a more active role in their own health care. There are many ways in which the therapeutic relationship can be strengthened and this is the task of a health consultant. Enabling health is far more than simply controlling illnesses; it does require an investment of time and resources, but the evidence that this is worthwhile is overwhelming. The NHS is encouraging patients to co-create health; to take action to enhance their own health alongside the medical care they receive. With the shifting demographics and increasing medical needs it is in fact more a necessity than a nicety, that we are all proactive in enhancing our health.
