Quality standard

Quality statement 6: Individualised care for adults

Quality statement 6: Individualised care for adults

Quality statement

Adults with suspected neurological conditions using NHS services experience care and treatment that is tailored to their needs and preferences.

Rationale

The NHS Constitution for England states that services must reflect, be coordinated around and tailored to the needs and preferences of patients. Recognising people as individuals improves the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare. Understanding which aspects of individuality and service responsiveness are important and valued by patients ensures that the human nature of healthcare is not lost. This involves giving people opportunities to discuss their needs and preferences. Engaging people in their own care helps them to actively manage their health and wellbeing. People with suspected neurological conditions may have particular needs and preferences, including those relating to psychological support.

Quality measures

Structure

a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults with suspected neurological conditions have opportunities to discuss their health beliefs, concerns and preferences.

Data source: Local data collection.

b) Evidence of local arrangements and written protocols to ensure that the needs and preferences of adults with suspected neurological conditions are assessed, addressed and regularly reviewed.

Data source: Local data collection.

c) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that care and treatment are tailored to the needs and preferences of adults with suspected neurological conditions.

Data source: Local data collection.

Process

a) Proportion of adults with suspected neurological conditions given the opportunity to discuss their health beliefs, concerns and preferences.

Numerator – The number in the denominator who were given the opportunity to discuss their health beliefs, concerns and preferences.

Denominator – The number of adults with suspected neurological conditions accessing NHS services.

Data source: Local data collection, for example patient records.

b) Proportion of adults with suspected neurological conditions with care tailored to their needs and preferences, taking into account their circumstances, ability to access services and coexisting conditions.

Numerator – The number in the denominator whose care was tailored to their needs and preferences, taking into account their circumstances, ability to access services and coexisting conditions.

Denominator – The number of adults with suspected neurological conditions accessing NHS services.

Data source: Local data collection, for example patient records and surveys.

c) Proportion of adults with suspected neurological conditions accessing NHS services who have their needs and preferences assessed, addressed and regularly reviewed.

Numerator – The number in the denominator who have their physical and psychological needs regularly assessed, addressed and regularly reviewed.

Denominator – The number of adults with suspected neurological conditions accessing NHS services.

Data source: Local data collection, for example patient records and surveys.

Outcome

a) Evidence from patient experience surveys and feedback that adults with suspected neurological conditions believe their care has been informed by their health beliefs, concerns and preferences.

Data source: Local data collection, for example patient surveys.

b) Evidence from patient experience surveys and feedback that the care of adults with neurological conditions was tailored to their needs and personal preferences, taking into account their circumstances, their ability to access services and their coexisting conditions.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, local surveys and records of feedback from adults with suspected neurological conditions using services.

c) Evidence from patient experience surveys and feedback that adults with suspected neurological conditions believe their physical and psychological needs were assessed, addressed and regularly reviewed.

Data source:Local data collection, for example, local surveys and records of feedback from adults with suspected neurological conditions using services.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (such as GPs, hospitals, community services and local authorities) ensure that systems are in place to provide opportunities to establish the health beliefs, concerns and preferences of adults with suspected neurological conditions and to use them to offer individualised care. Service providers tailor care and treatment to the needs and preferences of adults with suspected neurological conditions, taking into account their ability to access services and their coexisting conditions. They also have systems in place to regularly assess, address and review the physical and psychological needs of adults with suspected neurological conditions.

Health and social care practitioners (such as GPs, doctors, nurses and social workers) discuss health beliefs, concerns and preferences with adults who have suspected neurological conditions. They tailor care and treatment to each person's needs and preferences, taking into account the person's circumstances, ability to access services and coexisting conditions. They also assess, address and regularly review the person's physical and psychological needs.

Commissioners (such as clinical commissioning groups and NHS England) commission services in which the individual health beliefs, concerns and preferences of adults with suspected neurological conditions are established, and care is tailored to each person's needs and preferences. Services take into account the person's ability to access services and coexisting conditions. Services also assess, address and regularly review each person's physical and psychological needs.

Adults with suspected neurological conditions using NHS services have opportunities to discuss their health beliefs, concerns and preferences with the people providing their care. Their care and treatment take these into account, along with their needs, personal circumstances, how easy it is for them to use the services and any other health problems they have.

Source guidance

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Needs and preferences

These relate to an individual and include:

  • health beliefs

  • concerns

  • preferences

  • personal circumstances including ability to access services

  • physical needs including nutrition, hydration, pain relief, personal hygiene and anxiety

  • psychological needs including anxiety and depression

  • coexisting conditions.

[NICE's guideline on patient experience in adult NHS services]