People with long-term conditions disappointed with care

Almost a third of patients with long-term conditions are unsatisfied with care, according to a new survey by think tank, IPPR.

The report shows that over 15 million people in England have one or more long-term condition, with 70% of total health care spend devoted to caring for people with long-term conditions.

IPPR surveyed 2,600 UK users of the health social network, HealthUnlocked, who have an ongoing physical or mental health condition. The survey reveals that the majority of people with long-term conditions (77.3%) would like to try to manage ongoing health problems at home, using their own expertise in their conditions.

The report found that more empowered patients feel they receive a higher quality of care and asked a group of patients what would make them feel more empowered. Three quarters (75%) said a named person to contact directly about an aspect of their care would help. Access to personal medical records (70%) and peer support from people with similar conditions (61%) were the other two most popular answers.

Catherine McDonald, IPPR Health Fellow, said: “The impact of long-term conditions on people’s lives varies considerably. People with long-term conditions are the experts on the nature of their conditions and the impact on their lives. We need to move to a model where this expertise is recognised and used to inform decisions about care management.”

George McNamara, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Society, added: “We need a system put in place which works for people rather than rigid uncoordinated systems that fail to meet the needs of those living with long term conditions. By 2015, 850,000 people will be living with dementia, yet shamefully many are being let down. Change and reform is long overdue. We need strong and decisive leadership alongside vital investment in order to deliver a truly person centred health system. ”