Showcasing best practice to delegates
NHSshares‘realisticmedicine’
ANDREA LAMBROU
NHS Lanarkshire showcased their groundbreaking work in implementing ‘realistic medicine’ policies to a foreign delegation recently.
Staff at Hairmyres Hospital welcomed key players from the Norwegian Ministry of Health to highlight the leading work they are doing.
A national approach to healthcare, ‘realistic medicine’ puts patients at the centre of decision-making about treatment.
It provides a tailored and personalised approach that focuses on the patient as whole – not just the condition(s) they are dealing with – and gives them the power to influence their own treatment plans.
The health board’s clinical lead for the practice, Dr Babu Mukhopadhyay, welcomed the delegates for the twoday best practice visit, which included Norway’s state secretary of health and care services, Anne Grethe Erlandsen.
He said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the state secretary and her colleagues and share our realistic medicine journey with them.
“This is an approach that not only transforms how we engage with our patients, but genuinely gives them the power to make the healthcare decisions that influence their daily lives.”
Positive developments in ‘realistic medicine’ include the introduction of a five question template, known as 5Qs.
This is shared with all new hospital outpatients and is being rolled out in local communities, encouraging patients to ask five key questions when discussing treatment options.
It is hoped that this helps them make an informed decision about what the best option is for them as an individual.
Dr Mukhopadhyay added: “This is about healthcare professionals and patients working together, having meaningful discussions that consider what matters most to patients, being realistic about what we can and can’t achieve, and delivering the healthcare options that fit with patients’ individual lives and preferences.
“By doing this, we can deliver an efficient and effective healthcare service that not only focuses on the person, but also makes the best use of the resources available.
“I’m sure that our Norwegian guests found the visit to Hairmyres both informative and inspiring, and a great example of how we’re keeping medicine real here in NHS Lanarkshire.”