Norwegian health ministers have visited NHS Lanarkshire to find out more about a new personalised approach to patient care.

The ‘realistic medicine’ concept, which is being rolled out nationally, aims to give people the power to influence their own treatment plans.

One example is encouraging all new hospital outpatients to ask five key questions when discussing treatment options, to help them make an informed choice.

These include asking if they really need the test or treatment, what the benefits and risks are, how will it improve their health and what will happen if they do not take the option up.

NHS Lanarkshire said the realistic medicine approach has helped improved rates of procedures like tonsillectomies and reducing waiting times in gastroenterology. 

A delegation led by Norway’s state secretary of health and care services, Anne Grethe Erlandsen, visited University Hospital Hairmyres as part of a two-day visit to Scotland. 

She and fellow state secretary Inger Klippen met with medics who have been putting the approach into practice.

Dr Babu Mukhopadhyay, NHS Lanarkshire’s clinical lead for realistic medicine, said: “This is an approach that not only transforms how we engage with our patients, but genuinely gives them the power to make the healthcare decisions that influence their daily lives.

“It’s about healthcare professionals and patients working together, having meaningful discussions that consider what matters most to patients, being realistic about what we can and can’t achieve, and delivering the healthcare options that fit with patients’ individual lives and preferences.

“By doing this, we can deliver an efficient and effective healthcare service that not only focuses on the person, but also makes the best use of the resources available.”