DH publishes self-care guidance

Health and social care staff need to help patients use technology to manage their own conditions according to new guidance on supporting self-care published by the Department of Health.

Health minister Ivan Lewis announced the introduction of seven Common Core Principles to Support Self Care which the DH says will help health and social care services enable people to have better control over, and responsibility for, their own health and well-being.

The principles are designed to help staff develop the skills needed to provide people with access to appropriate information and support.

Minister for Health Services Ann Keen said: “The vision is of people who use services, empowered with advice, support and information, having choice about the services they want, being able to take more responsibility for their health and their lives and a more active role in managing their own care if this is what they want.”

As well as enabling individuals to use technology to support self-care, the Common Core Principles say that individuals should have access to appropriate information to manage their self-care needs and be able to make informed choices to manage their self-care needs.

The principles have been developed with the skills organisations Skills for Health and Skills for Care, with the guidance aimed at, but not limited to, staff supporting individuals living with a long term condition or with complex needs.