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Aims of the long term conditions team
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Last modified date:18 July 2008
The DH Long Term Conditions team aim is to drive forward the impetus for health, social care and third sector organisations to focus on improving care and outcomes for people with long term conditions.
We hope that the quality information and evidence presented on these webpages will reinforce why the focus on long term conditions care must be a priority. It can transform the lives of people, it can help them achieve the outcomes they really want for themselves and it makes economic sense.
Improvements in long term conditions care requires investment to reap benefits in the future – this really is a long term commitment.
It is also important to share good practice, to help each other by showing what can work and what is achievable. We hope these pages and will highlight some examples of the many innovative projects across the country where organisations and communities are pushing the boundaries to deliver real improvements.
At the very least we hope to provide you with food for thought and at best help you in moving forward with your long term conditions programmes - improving outcomes for people with long term conditions in your populations.
Quotes
"We need an NHS that gives all of those with long-term or chronic conditions the choice of greater support, information and advice, allowing them to play a far more active role in managing their own condition in partnership with their clinicians. And even when healthy, we know all of us will benefit from earlier information about potential health risks and advice on how we can keep ourselves fit and well."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Speech to the Kings' College London and the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing - January 2008
"The BMA would like to see self care through self management education become central to the patient involvement agenda. Self management education programmes have the potential to improve self care and alter the way that long term conditions are managed in the UK. What is wanted is for people to own and control their condition in order for them to determine how they want to live their life rather than the condition dictating how their life is led."
BMA Patient Liaison Group and General Practitioners Committee, September 2007
"Over 400 studies worldwide have shown that supporting self-management can lead to dramatically improved outcomes for patients"
'Self Care: a working partnership', BMA News, 22 March 2008, pp 9-10
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