BMJ  2005;330:657-661 (19 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7492.657

Education and debate

Rising to the challenge: will the NHS support people with long term conditions?

¹ Mill Stream Surgery, Wallingford OX10 6RL, ² Department of Health, London SW1A 2NL, ³ Health Service Management Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham

The NHS is waking to the challenge of chronic diseases. Three researchers who have worked in the Department of Health discuss how the NHS might rise to the challenge of better supporting people with long term conditions

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

The health gains experienced over the past 50 or so years are now presenting health systems around the world with a new challenge: how best to support people with long term conditions. An ageing population is testimony to improvements in public health through improved housing, sanitation and diet, and better health services—resulting in more patients surviving previously fatal events like serious infections but creating increasing numbers with long term conditions (fig 1). Over the past few years the British government has responded to issues that are foremost in the minds of the electorate, such as access to specialist services, especially in patient waiting times. This has evidently paid off.¹ Now the NHS is waking to the challenge of chronic diseases. The NHS Improvement Plan, launched in June 2004, outlined the importance of supporting people with long term conditions. In the foreword, John Reid, the secretary of state for . . . [Full text of this article]

The scale of the problem

NHS reform and the challenge of long term conditions

Organisation of health care

Design of the delivery system

Information systems

Decision support

Supported self care

Community resources and policies

Conclusion

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