Dangerous gaps in care of long-term health conditions

By The Press Association20th March 2015News EnglandCare Standards, Long Term Care / Conditions, News England, NHS, Pay and Conditions, Social Care

Better care should be provided to the millions of people living with long-term health conditions in the UK that cost the NHS £75 billion a year, a report has warned.

Dangerous gaps in diagnosis, treatment, support and co-ordination of care for patients are having serious consequences, the study by the Richmond Group – a coalition of 10 leading health and social care charities – said.

The report said that as £7 in every £10 of NHS money goes on treating people with long-term conditions, better ways of ensuring it is spent in the most effective places is needed.

It said 15 million people in England live with at least one long-term condition, following figures released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which showed that more than one in three adults (36%) in the UK reported having a long-standing illness or disability in 2013.

The report found 60% said their condition limits what they can do in their daily life, while long-term health problems account for 70% of hospital bed days and half of all GP appointments.

The importance of early diagnosis is also highlighted, pointing out that nearly a third of people suffering from neurological conditions had to see their GP at least five times before being referred to a specialist.

Meanwhile more than 93% of people with bowel cancer survive for at least five years if their tumour was diagnosed at an early stage compared with just 7% if it is diagnosed at a late stage.

The report said 80% of diabetes-related amputations could be avoided if individuals had access to the right care and support, while eight out of 10 people with asthma are not receiving care that meets the most basic clinical standards.

It also underlines the emotional and psychological impact of such conditions and the lack of support available to deal with this.

Tom Wright, chief executive of Age UK and chairman of the Richmond Group, said: “We have known for some time what needs to happen to support people with long-term conditions to survive and thrive, so the challenge is putting that knowledge into practice for everyone, right across the NHS and within social care.

“That’s why we are calling on the next government and healthcare leaders to commit to our vision for the next five years, so that the awful stories in this report become a thing of the past.”

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK which is also part of the group, said: “Too often we are failing to provide the right level of care and support needed by people with long-term conditions and as a direct result of inadequate care their health is being put at greater risk with devastating consequences.

“The health system urgently needs to address these issues so that all people living with long-term conditions get the support and care they need for a good quality of life and better health outcomes. This includes supporting people to better manage their own health and care to avoid more serious and costly health complications, and joining up services around patients’ needs.

“Until then, thousands more people will be condemned to living with debilitating complications that could have been avoided, and early deaths, and the sustainability of our health service will be at considerable threat.”