NHS gender identity services: strategic action framework 2022-2024

Annex A - About Realistic Medicine

In 2017 the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland published their second annual report titled Realising Realistic Medicine. This set out NHS Scotland's vision for introducing the realistic medicine concept and how it will make sure that by 2025 anyone providing healthcare in Scotland will take a realistic medicine approach.

Realistic Medicine puts the person receiving health and social care at the centre of decisions made about their care. It encourages health and care workers to find out what matters most to patients so that the care fits their needs and situation. It recognises that a one size fits all approach to health and social care is not the most effective path for the patient or the NHS.

Realistic Medicine is not just about doctors. 'Medicine' includes all professionals who use their skills and knowledge to help people maintain health and to prevent and treat illness. This includes professions such as nursing, pharmacy, counsellors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Realistic Medicine encourages shared decision making about care and is about moving away from a "doctor knows best" culture. This means a doctor or health professional should understand what matters to the patient personally and what their goals are.

Realistic Medicine will help to improve the NHS and the care and treatment it offers by:

• sharing decision making between health professionals and patients
• providing a personalised approach to care
• reducing harmful and wasteful care
• collaborative work between health professionals to avoid duplication and provide a joined up care package that better meets patient's needs and wishes