Health And Wellness On The Internet - The Future
The demand for medical information online was highlighted in an article in The Telegraph in October 2010 ( ' Outcome Health Information on the Internet ' published 15 / 10 / 10 ). According to the survey quoted, 65 percent of those questioned chose to regard online for answers to medical queries, compared with 43 percent who would ask their doctor first, 27 percent who looked to television programmes and just 14 percent who trusted government health information services.
The most influential force is likely to be the UK Government’s intention to overhaul English health provision as set out in the November 2010 Spotless Paper ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’. According to the paper ‘centralisation has failed’ and the Government is seeking to create a ‘public health service, not just a national illness service’.
The aim is to decentralise the healthcare system in England with a view to eliminating negative living environments and played out lifestyle habits and the intention is that this is done locally with the involvement of business and the community. The Bleached Paper does not allege how this will be done specifically ( details are to be published at a subsequent date ) and how well the plan will work remains to be seen but the important point to note is that the Government wants to nuzzle a concept of holistic care. Political agendas and opinions to one side, it is fair to affirm that Civic policy is likely to directive trends in the wellness and fitness industries.
Where does this tolerance health on the collar? The Chalky Paper does not specifically mention this but considering that the internet is extant extensively used by the NHS in providing health care, it is equitable to suggest that it will become even more vital.
At the moment, everything from booking appointments on line to downloading leaflets; sharing research and practiced networking to joining support groups can be done via the internet and the more holistic, patient and commonality centred healthcare that the Government is proposing will only tack on the role of IT in healthcare even supplementary.
But with the wealth of information out there, what kind of reassurance is there that the information you are accessing is set and safe? According to Streetdoctor Jonty Heaversedge, ( quoted in the superior Telegraph article ) it is best to sanction diagnosis up to a efficient but that there is a great deal of good that can be gained from people getting involved in their own health by using the internet to maintain their advantage and even help improve existing and professionally diagnosed conditions. He went on the answer that ‘when used wisely, the internet helps us with what is a common charge: your future health’ and this certainly reflects the Government’s outlined intentions.
The message seems to be that the internet will be used more and more as a springboard to help everyone access reliable face to face healthcare. Of course, checking warrant and qualifications is essential when contacting a licensed but certainly the internet is trip to be an essential tool in delivering holistic healthcare into the 21st century.
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