Campaign to target long-term illness in the Highlands

NHS Highlands and Islands have launched an initiative to target the number of patients suffering from long-term conditions.

In Scotland there are nearly two million people who are currently suffering from a long-term illness. This figure equates to approximately 30% of all households containing at least one person with a life limiting condition.

NHS Highland is working with a number of organisations such as Argyll and Bute Council and local voluntary groups to target conditions like heart and respiratory problems, strokes, diabetes and arthritis.

Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) recently hosted an event in Oban to showcase the work being done by health professionals working in the NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

Maggie Clark, long-term conditions manager for Argyll and Bute CHP, said: “Over two million people in Scotland are living with a long term condition and approximately 30% of all households include one or more people with a life limiting condition.

“With the changing population structure, increasing elderly population and the decreasing younger population we need to start planning and developing services now that are fit for the future.

“These services need to look at how we can develop new technologies and incorporate them into our current practices.

“The conference held in Oban provided an opportunity for health, social work and the voluntary sector to come together and showcase good practice and new developments across NHS Highland.”