Published: 01 March 2006
Long-term Self-care
NHS and social care organisations are being given extra support in helping millions of people with long term conditions manage their health better and stay out of hospital in a new guide published by the Department of Health.
The document - Supporting people with long term conditions to self-care - has been produced to further support NHS and social care staff in promoting self-care amongst their patients.
It highlights some of the innovative ways that health and social care services are supporting self care at a local level, including care information, monitoring devices, self care skills education & training and self care support networks - provided by a mix of providers, including private and voluntary sector agencies.
For example, in Hillingdon people with diabetes can now get support through the Hillingdon Community Pharmacy Diabetes Service. This is a personalised programme of health monitoring, education and medicines management offered at ten community pharmacies in the area.
Follow-up appointments give an opportunity for further discussion in issues such as weight management and giving up smoking. Results from the scheme show improvements in health and also that participants achieve a greater understanding about diabetes, enabling them to become more confident about monitoring their condition and administering their own medication.
In Tyne and Wear, the Northumbria Parkinson's Disease Service offers an eight-week education and support programme that teaches people about their condition and symptoms.
People with Parkinson's disease attend the programme with their carer and can choose activities that enable them to deal with the impact of Parkinson's disease on their daily lives, manage their own treatment, and maintain those things which are most important - work, socialising and family.
Last year, the Department of Health announced a major overhaul in the way health and social care services deliver care to the millions of people in England with long-term conditions. Long-term conditions are those conditions that cannot, at present, be cured, but can be controlled by medication and other therapies. They include diabetes, asthma, and arthritis.
The changes are designed to improve the health and quality of life of those with long-term conditions, prevent premature death, and reduce the number of times they have emergency visits to hospital.
As part of these changes, the Government is committed to having 3,000 NHS community matrons delivering specialist care across the country by 2007.
Health Minister Lord Warner said:
"Evidence suggests that when people have more personal involvement and control over their care, there are improved health outcomes”.
National Director for Primary Care Prof. David Colin-Thome said:
"This new self-care guide and the proposals set out in the white paper give local NHS and social care staff the support they need to make self-care a real choice for people with long term conditions.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals and others in the NHS do recognise the value of helping patients manage their conditions better but we can benefit from the ideas in the guide.
With the support and guidance of these staff, people with long term conditions can take control of their own health and make the type of choices that will give them a better quality of life."
Further information
Supporting people with long term conditions to self-care
DH: Long-term care website
Supporting People with Long Term Conditions: An NHS and Social Care Model to support local innovation and integration
NSF for Long Term Conditions (neurological)
Self Care - A Real Choice (Self Care Support - A Practical Option)
Supporting people with long term conditions: Liberating the talents of nurses who care for people with long term conditions
Related articles:
'Self Care - A Real Choice'
Clarification on "Community Matron" Role
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