Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes emphasis on self-care and information for people with long-term conditions

13 Jan 2005

The NHS Confederation has welcomed today's announcement from the Department of Health detailing new guidance for promoting information for patients with long- term conditions.

Jo Webber, policy manager at the NHS Confederation, said: "We are pleased that the new guidance places such an emphasis on self-care and meets so many of the recommendations we campaigned for in the "17 Million Reasons" manifesto. We are glad that the Department of Health now recognises the importance of providing more information on long-term conditions, which enables people to become decision makers on their care and to actively live their lives with their condition. However, more investment is needed alongside this recognition to create universal excellent patient information systems."

"PCTs will be able to use this guidance to develop their own strategy to support people who have already developed long-term conditions, and this should be seen as working hand-in-hand with the Public Health White Paper, which should help to prevent future generations from developing long-term conditions in the first place."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
2. "17 Million Reasons" is a manifesto for improving the lives of people with long-term conditions, devised by a partnership of 21 managerial, professional and patient groups. More information on the partnership is available at http://www.17millionreasons.org/ .

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