In a report on the NHS White Paper and patient, the public and health professional engagement, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on primary care and public health said it supports the government’s aim of putting patients first.
To improve NHS productivity the level of patient, public and health professional engagement should be intensified, it said.
Lord Hunt, co-chair of the APPG, suggested training of NHS staff could include work on how to engage patients and how to encourage greater positive health behaviours.
He said: ‘If implemented correctly health engagement can help towards efficiency savings whilst at the same time making the public and patients more empowered in their health decisions.’
Health minister Lord Howe added that health professionals have an ‘important role’ in helping patients look after their own health.
He said: ‘The Government is committed to strong patient and public involvement and engagement because it is essential in creating positive health behaviours and outcomes.’
Greater patient engagement needed to improve NHS efficiency
Clinical and patient engagement needs to intensify if the NHS is to improve efficiency and productivity, a group of MPs has said.
