People Powered Health: How systems adapt

The current healthcare system is a major barrier to People Powered Health. Current incentive structures mean we're not measuring what really matters to patients - the system often focuses on medical outcomes rather than patient-defined outcomes, such as being able to get up the stairs.

Often there is a lack of understanding of how patients interact with the complex range of services on offer, which contributes to poor strategic planning and commissioning of services that do not truly meet the needs of communities.

Beyond the NHS, there's a disconnect between health, social care and public health, which means outcomes are poorer than they could be. Workforce culture also limits the scope for new ways of working.

People Powered Health systems create the right conditions to put patients at the heart of healthcare: measuring outcomes based on patients' quality of life, not numbers of procedures undertaken; supporting the workforce by offering training and incentives to build the right culture; and planning and commissioning services driven by patients' needs and wants.

Disparate parts of the system are connected - health, social care and public health - so the individual is part of an integrated system.

Find out more about the other three elements of People Powered Health

• Relationships
• Roles
• Services

Find out how Nesta and Innovation Unit are delivering People Powered Health