Introducing personalised care planning into Newham: outcomes of a pilot project (Walker et al 2012)
This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a personalised care planning approach for diabetes care in general practice. A four-stage care planning process was introduced for diabetes annual review, involving patients (1) being made aware of the new process, (2) attending an appointment to gather clinical data, (3) receiving and reviewing their results, and (4) attending a care planning consultation. The latter is a collaborative discussion with the health professional about their response to their results, their goals and desired action plan. Health professionals received specialist training in personalised care planning, including practice observations and feedback. Introducing personalised care planning to general practice diabetes care was found to be possible and well received. The model for implementation of personalised care planning, which included specialty training for practice teams and ongoing support from local colleagues and health organisations, can help to meet national recommendations for the provision of personalised care plans for people with long-term conditions. When implementing personalised care planning, efficient administration is vital, and behaviour change is necessary for both staff and patients.
