Spinal Injuries Association issues 10-Year Health Plan statement
The Spinal Injuries Association has issued a statement in response to the UK government’s 10-Year Health Plan which was revealed yesterday.
The statement reads:
The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) welcomes today’s commitment to expand Neighbourhood Health Services that deliver more personalised, proactive care in the community as part of the government’s 10-year health plan for the NHS.
This shift recognises that people with complex needs, including spinal cord injuries, require joined-up support tailored to their individual lives, not just reactive treatment when things go wrong.
We are especially pleased to see the Government commit to ensuring that 95% of people with complex needs will have a co-created personal care plan by 2027, a policy that stems directly from the work of the Spinal Injuries Association and others in the sector.
Far too often, people with spinal cord injuries were forced to retell their needs repeatedly in general healthcare settings that did not understand their condition leading to unsafe care, preventable complications, and poor outcomes.
These care plans have already been adopted by individuals with spinal cord injury and have shown they can transform care, reduce complications, and give people greater control over their health.
Nik Hartley OBE, chief executive of the Spinal Injuries Association, said:
“This is a game-changer for our community. We’ve spent years developing and championing personalised care plans that transform the quality and safety of care for people with spinal cord injuries.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the Government commit to making this the national standard, recognising what our members have always known: that care built around the individual’s specific and specialised needs doesn’t just improve lives, it saves them.
“We’re proud to have helped shape this change, and we stand ready to work with the Government and the NHS to ensure it becomes a reality for tens of thousands of people across the country.”
Here is what people living with spinal cord injury said about having a care plan in place when visiting a general healthcare setting:
“I’m 64 and have no relatives, so I’m forced to self-advocate when in hospitals or taken in, and I don’t do that well due to PTSD. Having a care plan kept in my bags/pockets too is a reassurance for me.”
“It does take away that anxiety of having to have conversations that you shouldn’t have to deal with as a patient. The anxiety of at least that one thing is off the list, which is good.”
“The staff loved it because it told them everything that they needed to know about my specific care regime and what they needed to do and how they needed to do it.”
This is a major win for all those with complex needs whose voices deserve to shape the future of health and care in this country.
And most importantly, they are steps that will change, and save, lives. We will work to ensure they are implemented in full.
Find out more about the SIA at spinal.co.uk
