NHS North Yorkshire and York

General information on self care, evaluation and supporting documentation (see key documents).

NHS Improvement have published 'Accurate diagnosis for suspected COPD'. This document covers diagnosis, tests and assessment of severity and impact.

Evidence and supporting information for primary care on the development of self care support.

The Stroke: Act F.A.S.T. awareness campaign aims to educate healthcare professionals and the public on the signs of stroke and that prompt emergency treatment can reduce the risk of death and disability. It encourages people to recognise the signs of stroke and feel confident to phone 999 for an ambulance on detecting any single one of them. Emergency action is as important for TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) or 'mini-strokes'.

Health care professionals can order Stroke Act F.A.S.T support materials online from the Department of Health publications orderline or by telephone 0300 123 1002.

This is a new resource and networking organisation for everyone with a professional interest in self-care. The site provides fast access to information and resources on self-care.

1. Skills Training
For patients	Expert patient programme health literacy programmes Skilled for health Other disease/ condition specific self management courses: Self Care Connect Information on healthy lifestyles: NHS Choices Live Well Take Life On, One Step at a Time
GP specific information	Improved self care by people with long term conditions through self management education programmes The BMA would like to see self care through self management education become central to the patient involvement agenda. Self management education programmes have the potential to improve self care and alter the way that long term conditions are managed in the UK. What is wanted is for people to own and control their condition in order for them to determine how they want to live their life rather than the condition dictating how their life is led. Enabling people with long term conditions to self manage their health: a resource for GPs
For professionals involved in patient care	Support for self care in Primary care and urgent settings Actively promotes self care and has developed a number of training tools for schools, People and Primary care. Self Care for Primary Care Programme aimed at both PCTs (and social care organisations) and general practice, including pharmacy teams, as a route to developing a culture where promoting and supporting self care is integral to every aspect of and healthcare and services the team provide. Training materials and tools and devices to support self care. Registration (free) to the site is necessary to access the resources.
2. Information
While information on its own is not enough to affect people’s behaviour, quality of life or clinical outcome, there is good evidence to suggest that better understanding of a long term condition can positively affect people’s understanding of their symptoms and long term health. Developing a personalised action plan with patients which identifies where they can get information, support, skills in using tools or devices which may help them self monitor their condition will help promote a patients self efficacy. Asthma UK’s ‘Be in control’ materials have been developed to help people with asthma to self manage and take better control of their asthma. The pack includes an action plan with information about what actions to take when their symptoms get better or worse. It also includes information about what to do during an asthma attack. Patient.co.uk also gives an example of an Asthma action plan. To do this patients need to know: Information to assess their own conditions To know what is normal for them To know where and how to get further help and advice To know how and why to take their medicines.
Information may be sourced from:	Internet - if patients don’t have access to the internet at home local libraries provide free access for up to the first 30 minutes. There are also people on hand who can help with navigating sites. Professionals can signpost to this service. Leaflets and information sheets Health professionals Friends, neighbours and family Including NHS choices, patient.co.uk, Prodigy, Healthtalkonline for info on conditions, friends, family, pharmacists, library, adult education.
Patients' Prospectus	Your health, your way – a guide to long-term conditions and self care was launched on NHS Choices on 2 November 2008 to provide people with long-term conditions the information they need about the choices which should be available locally, to enable them to self care in partnership with health and social care professionals. If people are able to understand and exercise their choice around support for self care, they can better control their condition and ultimately improve their quality of life. From April 2009 local services should be provided to match the national offer. Launch letter available here.
Information Prescriptions	NHS Choices have launched an Information Prescription service which allows the public and health professionals to create information prescriptions for long-term health needs, providing information about the condition and local services. An informed patient is better placed to make decisions about their care and wellbeing, and manage changes in their health status. NHS Choices has developed a range of care pathways on coronary heart disease, asthma, stroke, depression and diabetes, including the option to print an information prescription. Further pathways will follow.
Health Literacy – Skilled for health	Ensuring patients know what medicines do, why they take them and how to take them has been shown to increase the rate of compliance NHS Choices Medicines Guide
3. Tools and devices
What tools and devices are available to assist with this condition? These may include self monitoring tools and assistive technology. This can come from a variety of sources including health, social services, voluntary organisations etc.	Supporting Self Care – a practical option: Diagnostic, monitoring and assistive tools, devices, technologies and equipment to support self care Enabling people with long term conditions to self manage their health: a resource for GPs Making the Case for Self Care Education - The Department of Health, in collaboration with Expert Patients Programme CIC, have developed a new tool to help make the local business case for self care education. Self Management Support Resource Centre - The Health Foundation resource centre is packed full of information and practical resources that can be adopted and adapted locally to help services and health professionals to develop their own self management support programmes.
4. Support Networks
Community and voluntary support groups, expert patient, and diseases specific support groups.
Healthtalkonline	Healthtalkonline shares other people's experiences of health and illness. You can watch or listen to videos of the interviews, read about people's experiences and find reliable information about conditions, treatment choices and support. The information on Healthtalkonline is based on qualitative research into patient experiences, led by experts at the University of Oxford. Healthtalkonline replaces the DIPEx.org website.
Patient UK	A list of the most common support groups relating to specific diseases
NHS Choices	Support organisations listed by conditions and treatments.

General: The Self Care Toolkit. A very useful self care information booklet developed by Pete Moore, a senior trainer at the Expert Patients Programme based in Essex, for people who live with persistent health conditions, their families and carers, and health professionals.

Angina: Anginaplan.org.uk – Self management plan for people with stable chronic angina

Diabetes: DAFNE - DAFNE is a skills based education programme in which people with Type 1 diabetes learn how to adjust insulin to suit their free choice of food and DESMOND - Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed. It is a new, structured group education programme for people with Type 2 diabetes.

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