24.01.14
‘Every patient is a person’ – Hunt
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has urged doctors to think of patients as people, not just numbers.
In a speech at St Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospital in London, he will warn that the current system can often see patients passed around between referrals. Hunt also backed the campaign started by Dr Kate Granger to encourage clinicians to greet their patients and give them their names.
He said: “Every patient is a person. A person with a name. A person with a family. Not just a body harbouring a pathology; not a diagnostic puzzle; not a four-hour target or an 18-week problem; not a cost pressure – and most certainly not a ‘bed-blocker’.
“Dr Kate Granger has highlighted the importance of treating patients as people. She has started the campaign #hellomynameis, which has become increasingly well-known based on the simple but vital courtesy of introducing yourself when meeting patients for the first time. We can all learn from that approach.”
Dr Anita Donley, clinical vice-president president of the Royal College of Physicians, said:
“In future, we will also need more doctors who have the knowledge and skills to diagnose, manage and coordinate continuing care for the increasing number of patients who have multiple and complex conditions, including the older patient with frailty and dementia. This will mean changes to the education and training of doctors and a focus on the generalist skills needed to do this.
“We welcome the secretary of state’s support for a ‘whole stay doctor’ who is responsible for the standard of care delivered to each patient during their hospital stay. The Future Hospital report had recommended that there should be a named consultant responsible for the whole of the patient’s stay.
“Patients and carers should know where they can receive information about their care. Every patient should be given information about which consultant is responsible for their care and how they can be contacted.”
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