Patients Association Network for Patients launch Joint Manifesto for Trust
Writing in a letter to the Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, published 18 April 2010, the Patients Association Network for Patients launches its historic first joint manifesto. Developed with and supported by 30 patient support groups and charities (including The Anaphylaxis Campaign) the Network for Patients Joint Manifesto attempts to ensure the voices of patients and carers are at the “heart of the debate” on the future of health and social care during the general election. Under the theme of Trust, the three point manifesto demands clarity from politicians, transparency from the NHS and support from GPs in accessing help from groups like ours.
Writing in the joint letter, Director of the Patients Association Katherine Murphy said “The Patients Association has joined together with other patient support groups and charities to make sure the needs of those we seek to represent are at the top of the agenda as the political parties debate the future of health and social care services. The voice of patients and carers should be at the heart of this debate.”
“We feel strongly that all the parties need to start being more explicit about funding for health and social care, not just for the next Parliament, but for the long term.”
“We want the next Government to set new standards of transparency. That means an end to the practice of national promises that don’t materialise locally.”
“General Practitioners should be given a “duty to refer”, highlighting the existence of information and support networks provided by organisations such as ours and helping patients to find out more. Only by knowing what services they should be getting will patients and carers be able to exert the necessary pressure when standards fall short.”
President of the Patients Association Claire Rayner said “At every general election politicians are busy telling patients and carers what they want and need and then they try to persuade voters they’ll be the ones to deliver it. All the groups supporting this desperately needed initiative wanted to remind politicians that it is the voice of patients and carers that needs to be at the heart of this debate. ”
“Our proposals are not a solution to all of our problems, but they are three helpful steps in the right direction. We would hope that all the political parties can support our requests. As well as giving our views on their answers, we will be putting their responses online so that we can let the voters decide whether these politicians are really committed to patients and carers or not!”
Chief Executive of Arthritis Care Neil Betteridge said “Giving patients and carers the right information, and enabling them to make informed decisions about their health, is crucial to ensuring that health services genuinely meet people's needs and that patients and carers are fully aware of all the options available to help them manage their condition. Empowering patients to take greater control of their health must be a prime focus for the health service."
Chief Executive of Ostomy Lifestyle Neil Basil said “Too many people hope their GP will have all of the answers; in fact for many conditions they may not have even met another patient in that situation. A duty to refer will ensure patients are put in touch with qualified sources of support, such as patient organisations with larger, better informed networks”
Chief Executive of The Anaphylaxis Campaign Lynne Regent said “The three pledges reflect the issues raised by members of The Anaphylaxis Campaign and other allergy patients who contact us for information and support. We are very happy to support this initiative”
Chief Executive of The Meningitis Trust Sue Davie said “As a charity, which focuses on aftercare and support, we are particularly delighted that the Patient Association has highlighted the need for General Practitioners to be given a ‘duty to refer’ to organisations such as ours. By working together with GPs, we will be able to ensure better quality and provision of vital support and, most importantly, reach the very people who need us”.
The Patients Association Network for Patients Joint Manifesto is a three point manifesto consisting of
1. Encouraging GPs to ensure their patients are aware of what patient support groups they could seek help from for information & support relating to their conditions.
2. Introducing a requirement for national announcements on funding to be supported by a framework to ensure funding is spent locally as announced/intended.
3. A request for more clarity and detail from political parties on how they plan to fund health and social care for the duration of the next Government and beyond.
The Patients Association Network for Patients Joint Manifesto is supported by the following organisations:
Abbeyfield
Action Against Allergy
Alzheimer's Society
Arrhythmia Alliance
Arthritis Care
Atrial Fibrillation Association
Compassion in Dying
Dignity in Dying
Epilepsy Action
Lupus UK
Macular Disease Society
Migraine Action
National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
Ostomy Lifestyle
Parkinson's UK
Primary Immunodeficiency Association
Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures
The Anaphylaxis Campaign
The British Liver Trust
The British Pain Society
The Lindsay Leg Club Foundation
The Meningitis Research Foundation
The Meningitis Trust
The Migraine Trust
The Multiple Sclerosis Society
The Patients Association
The Pelvic Pain Support Network
The Psoriasis Association
Thyroid UK