News

This editorial piece in the Health Service Journal last week discusses the choice agenda and what can be done to help patients make what can often be very difficult choices. The author discusses the role of high quality, relevant information and providing patients with the support and skills they need to make decisions

The piece looks at the significant improvements that have been made in information resources and in access to these and suggests that the next logical step is to provide patients with the skills and support they need to then take that information, understand it well enough and to view it in the context of their own personal preferences and values. The author suggests that what is important to one person now is not necessarily what will be important to them next year. And herein lies one of the major challenges.

www.hsj.co.uk/opinion/2008/12/phyllis_shelton_on_giving_patients_real_choice.html