Government will miss 2010 care plan target according to national survey of patient advocacy groups

Published: 18 September 2009

Embargoed until: 00:01 18th September 2009

A nationwide survey of 430 advocacy groups representing the views of over 1 million patients in England has found that over 70 per cent believe the government will miss its target of offering everyone with a long-term condition (such as asthma, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease) a care plan by 2010.

Care plans are patient-friendly roadmaps that record the treatment and social support that a person with a long-term illness needs. They are meant to be developed collaboratively with the patient, and where appropriate, their families and carers. Care planning should include a discussion about their information needs and are also intended to be flexible, adapting to any changes in the patient's personal circumstances.

The majority of groups (62 per cent) report that only 30 per cent of their members have been offered a care plan already. If the results reveal a true picture of the state of care planning, this means that just 5 million of the 15 million people estimated to be living with a long-term condition have been offered a care plan. For the 2010 target to be met, 1 million care plans will have to be delivered every month until the general election.

The survey also found that 30 per cent of those who have a care plan found them to be of benefit. Almost three quarters of the groups taking part in the survey maintain that care plans, if properly designed and implemented, could increase patients' satisfaction with their treatment and care, as well improve quality of life.

Specialist nurses were identified as the group that offer the most support in the care planning process, and the professionals that people with a long term condition would most like to collaborate with regarding care planning. This underlines the importance of specialist nurses at a time when the pressure to reduce costs within the NHS is growing. Specialist nurses are historically the first to bear the brunt of NHS nursing cuts.

National Voices, which represents the users of health and social care, and the Royal College of Nursing believe the survey results show how important care planning can be in helping to address the healthcare demands of people with long-term conditions. They are now demanding for NHS initiatives to increase the awareness of care planning among staff and patients and more support for everyone involved in the care planning process.

Mark Platt, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at National Voices said: "The results of our survey are disappointing in that it demonstrates that even for those that have them so few people are actively involved in developing their care plans. It is also worrying that we have such a long way to go to meet the 2010 target. If the Government is truly to deliver the commitments that it has made, including those contained in the NHS Constitution, more must be done across all patient pathways. In a time of economic downturn, care plans are also fundamental to delivering services that match need and therefore ensuring that health services are delivered cost-effectively."

Commenting on the launch of the survey, Dr Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing said:

"It is important that people with a long term condition have a care plan that ensures the care they receive is consistent and provided in a way that the patient is happy with. Specialist nurses provide the vital support and guidance needed to involve patients in the care planning process. Without appropriate investment in specialist and community nursing services, the Government will run the risk of not meeting its target by 2010, preventing these patients from receiving the type of care they need and deserve."

Ends

For further information please contact:

Julian Tyndale-Biscoe, InHealth Communications, on 07882 985597 (julian.tb@inhealthcomms.com)

RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

Notes to Editors

1. The Government has committed that by 2010, everyone with a long-term condition should be offered a care plan. This survey defines a 'care plan' as a form of patient-friendly 'roadmap' that records the treatment and social support that a person with a long-term illness needs. Care planning is meant to be done in consultation with the patient. The care planning process is also intended to be flexible, adapting to any changes in the patient's personal circumstances.

2. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.
3. National Voices is an umbrella organisation established by and for the national voluntary organisations representing users of health and social care in England to give them a stronger voice in policy-making. National Voices works with policy-makers in Westminster and Whitehall to make sure that the voices of patients, carers and service users are heard and that their diverse needs and preferences are genuinely placed at the heart of policy development. In doing this National Voices will ensure that the views of the people who use health and social care services are heard by the people who shape and provide those services.