Local healthcare staff have been working with our citizens to develop resources to support shared decision making in Birmingham and Solihull.

Shared decision making puts the patient at the centre of decisions about their care and treatment.

It is a collaborative process where a healthcare professional supports a patient to reach a decision about their treatment, typically during a healthcare appointment.

Preparing patients to be engaged in these conversations is vital to ensure good quality decision making during healthcare appointments

Over the last year, staff from NHS Birmingham and Solihull’s Personalised Care team and our citizens have been developing practical and promotional resources to encourage and support patients to be involved in the decisions about their care.

The resources, which include a leaflet and videos of local healthcare professionals, aim to address the potential barriers to effective shared decision making, as raised by our citizens, such as not knowing the right questions to ask during an appointment.

The resources encourage the patient to consider what matters most to them prior to the appointment, such as any caring responsibilities or hobbies, and to share this information with their healthcare professional so together they can discuss healthcare options with what matters most to the patient.

Also, the resources encourage the patient to ask four questions during the appointment, when discussing their healthcare options.  

  • What are the benefits? 
  • What are the risks? 
  • What are the alternatives? 
  • What if I do nothing?

Having considered what matters most to them and asked the four questions, the patient should be in a position to make the right decision for their circumstances.

You can view the leaflet, as well as further information about shared decision making, on the NHS Birmingham and Solihull website. The communication resources have been shared with healthcare partners across our integrated care system for use on their channels.

For further information about the resources or to learn about free training on shared decision making, please contact the Personalised Care team at NHS Birmingham and Solihull via email.