The 10 Key Standards of Care

Patients and Healthcare professionals setting the standards of care for Inflammatory Arthritis

We frequently hear in the news the mention of redesigning our health services, of the need to take care out of the hospital and into the community setting. But just how much involvement do frontline healthcare professionals and patients  have in this service redesign? After all, if we listen to Andrew Lansley, we hear that his pledge is, ‘nothing about me, without me’. The patient should therefore be at the centre of their healthcare and making decisions with their healthcare professionals involved in their care. Sadly, this does not seem to happen and not only do patients often feel empowered to be involved, but healthcare professionals themselves often feel that they have no say in the way that the services they feel they need to deliver are listened to by the commissioners that purchase and design the services.

NRAS has been working very closely with the East of England Strategic Health Authority, with Healthcare Professionals and with other patient groups involved with Inflammatory Arthritis and have produced 10 Key Standards of Care that commissioners need to take into account when planning and purchasing services for Inflammatory Arthritis. This really is empowering patients and healthcare professionals and ensuring that quality services are encouraged and protected.

Please click here to download the 10 Key Standards of Care