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 today 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. Helping people take control of their own health was a key theme of the recent health white paper.

Health Minister Lord Warner said:

"Helping people to take control of their own health is a major part of NHS reform. Evidence suggests that when people have more personal involvement and control over their care, there are improved health outcomes. Furthermore, recent consultation has told us that people want more services based around their needs. We are determined to deliver these.

"This comprehensive self care guide will help local organisations develop strategies to deliver self care support for millions of people with long term conditions."

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."

The new guidance is available on-line at
dh/longtermconditions

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 and 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 3000 NHS community matrons delivering specialist care across the country by 2007.

1) Supporting people with long term conditions to self-care links closely with other DH guidance on long term conditions, including:

- Supporting People with Long Term Conditions: An NHS and Social Care Model to support local innovation and integration - January 2005

- the NSF for Long Term Conditions (neurological)

- Self Care - A Real Choice (Self Care Support - A Practical Option) - January 2005

2) The Our Health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services White Paper can be found on the Dept of Health website: dh/ourhealthourcareoursay

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