This site is intended for health professionals only

One-in-six says quality of life compromised by long-term illness

One-in-six says quality of life compromised by long-term illness
23 March 2015



Leading charities unite in calling on NHS to improve care for people with long-term conditions.

The NHS is spending £75 billion a year treating people with long-term conditions (LTCs) – accounting for £7 in every £10 spent by the health service – yet too many people are still not receiving the care they need, warns a new report by The Richmond Group, a coalition of 10 leading health and social care charities.

Leading charities unite in calling on NHS to improve care for people with long-term conditions.

The NHS is spending £75 billion a year treating people with long-term conditions (LTCs) – accounting for £7 in every £10 spent by the health service – yet too many people are still not receiving the care they need, warns a new report by The Richmond Group, a coalition of 10 leading health and social care charities.

The report, Vital signs: taking the temperature of health and social care for services for people living with long term conditions, sets out how 15 million people in England (one-in-four) live with at least one LTC today. It argues that the state of care is inconsistent and that not enough people are getting the care and support they need to live well.

The report highlights dangerous gaps in diagnosis, treatment, support and coordination of care for patients and this is having serious consequences. It found that 80% of diabetes-related amputations could be avoided if individuals had access to the right care and support. Similarly, eight out of 10 people with asthma aren’t receiving care that meets the most basic clinical standards, despite two out of three asthma deaths being preventable with better routine care.  

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, 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.”

Want news like this straight to your inbox?

Related articles