Transfer of risk to patients and families
Personal budgets and 'big society' may mean risks currently taken by the NHS shift onto patients, carers and the wider community, with uncertain impacts on the nursing workforce.
Recent Government policy, particularly under David Cameron, has been to allow greater responsibility to decide one’s care as well as for decisions to be made as close to the patient as possible. Hence policies such as the ‘big society’ agenda, personal budgets and the introduction of localised clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
However, while such policies have often been justified in the name of efficiency and greater personal choice, these policies may also mean risks currently taken on by the NHS (and therefore, de facto, the Government) may be shifted onto patients, carers and the wider community. Examples could include financing for particular services, or how particular services are delivered, with the possibility of some services delivered by private institutions rather than the NHS.
The impacts of such changes on the nursing workforce are uncertain. It may increase the emphasis on nurses serving as trusted advisors; for example, in deciding recommended courses of action to individuals. It may be, then, that education and training need to evolve, emphasising management of rather than delivery of care. Demand for nursing may also increase if patients consider nurses to be key advisers in deciding care.
Policymakers may consider how roles should change, given current policy and the inherent difficulty of shifting course in policy terms.
Sources or references
- Robert G, J. Cornwell, et al. (2011). ‘What matters to patients’? Developing the evidence base for measuring and improving patient experience. Project Report for the Department of Health and NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement , NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement.
- Department of Health 2012. A framework for NHS patient experience.
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
