25 Mar 2004
A partnership of 15 organisations has called upon Health Secretary, John Reid, to reflect the priorities of NHS organisations and patient groups in his new deal for people with long-term conditions.
The partnership welcomes the Health Secretary's recent announcement of plans to ensure that people in England with long-term conditions receive the support they need and is encouraged by the Secretary of State's commitment to providing services that are personal and unique to the individual.
Case-management demonstrator sites within Strategic Health Authorities have the potential to offer people with long-term conditions more specialist and integrated support from the health service as part of their care package. However, there are other changes that should be put in place to ensure that case management makes a real difference. The partnership believes that everyone with long-term conditions should have:
Now that major inroads have been made into waiting times for hospital care, similar level of energy and focus must now be dedicated to long-term conditions. There is a major opportunity to ensure that this is reflected in the forthcoming PSA targets and the Planning and Priorities Framework.
Speaking on behalf of the partnership, David Pink, Chief Executive, of the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance (LMCA), said: "We are encouraged by the Secretary of State's recent announcement putting people with long-term conditions at the heart of the health agenda. We would like to see these three key principles, that will make a real difference to the lives of those with long-term conditions, reflected in Government policy-making."
Last reviewed 27 Oct 2006