Charity to focus on long-term illness
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Newsitem taken from http://www.theherald.co.uk
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Ministers are to unveil the first charity set up to deal with the two million people in Scotland with long-term medical problems. The move is intended to help halt the soaring number of people admitted to hospital each year and realise the vision of an NHS which focuses more on preventing and controlling illness. Campaigners have welcomed the step, saying it acknowledges the long neglected needs of people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Andy Kerr, health minister, said creating the organisation was one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the next decade. Mr Kerr said: "It is part of giving patients and carers an equal partnership, and supporting people to manage conditions like coronary heart disease or asthma year on year, so that they can maintain health and keep a good quality of life." Called the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, the charity has grown from a blueprint for the future of the Scottish health service which was produced by Professor David Kerr and a panel of experts almost a year ago. The report warned that NHS Scotland was not ready to cope with the burgeoning elderly population and the multiple long-term medical conditions they are likely to suffer. Noting the number of pensioners over the age of 80 will double in Scotland in the next 25 years, it said: "We will no longer be able to afford a health care system which more often than not waits for a health crisis before providing care. "This approach often results in an unnecessary, damaging, expensive and prolonged hospital admission. We need a health care system with an emphasis on providing continuous preventative care for people with long-term conditions." In their response to the document the executive said it would establish a Scottish long-term conditions alliance this year to help patients manage their own health problems. It said the body would ensure patients and carers had the knowledge they needed, develop "expert patients" to act as advisers and mentors to fellow sufferers and pilot technology which would help patients look after themselves. Alan McGinley, policy and public affairs officer for Diabetes UK in Scotland, also said the alliance would act as "the conscience of Kerr" ensuring his recommendations translated into change on the ground. Mr McGinley, who has helped create the charity, said: "It is about establishing an organisation which is going to ensure the principles in the Kerr report are put into practice. Those principles come from years of campaigning to put long-term conditions at the centre of the health service." Among the issues the alliance will tackle are the cost of prescriptions for some groups of patients, the availability of psychological support for people coping with long-term conditions and the way patients are educated about their health. Another aim is to ensure people with multiple health problems receive treatment that takes account of the toll of their different illnesses. Asked whether the alliance, which is receiving £80,000 from the executive over two years, was being sufficiently funded to aid such work, Mr McGinley said: "It is certainly not enough to match up to the scale of the problem, but it is enough to establish the organisation with a proper footing. I would hope if it proves its worth over the next couple of years it will be given that bit more support." The charity will bring together groups that already exist to fight for patients with specific health problems. Susan Douglas-Scott, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, said it would also give a voice to people with unusual conditions and multiple health issues. Dr Mairi Scott, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, welcomed the new charity, saying: "The voluntary organisations contribute a huge amount, not just to the health of individuals and their families, but also to discussion around policy development."
Newsitem taken from http://www.theherald.co.uk