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Press release: New report published on providing better care for patients with long term conditions26 Sep 2006 Patients living with long-term medical conditions such as heart failure and chronic respiratory conditions are the focus of a new report published today by NHS Employers. The Improving Services For People With Long Term Conditions Through Large Scale Workforce Change report is the result of a 10-month national programme involving more than 60 organisations from across the NHS, social services and the voluntary sector in England. Over the 10 months, the organisations reviewed the services they provided to patients with long term conditions and found they could dramatically improve patient care and free up hospital beds at the same time. NHS Employers deputy director Alastair Henderson said: "Over 15 million people in this country are living with a long-term medical condition. That's a third of the population. Staff from local NHS, social services and voluntary organisations have been working together in our programme to make changes that have better enabled their patients to maintain their independence and well-being and lead as fulfilling a life as possible." One example is Kingston PCT, which has appointed community matrons to support patients to stay in their own home. The matrons have drawn up individual plans with each patient on their case load, helping them to understand it. They also coordinate all of each patient's health and social care, working with family, the GP and the local social services department, ensuring the care is appropriate and meets the individual needs of that patient. As a result, patients have begun to better understand their condition and feel they have more control over their lives. Since the scheme began, patients are calling out their GP less often and are spending on average 50 % less time in hospital. This is freeing up hospital beds and saving the PCT an estimated £127,000 every year. The long-term conditions programme was run by NHS Employers' large scale workforce change team. Many of the organisations worked in local teams usually made up NHS trusts and local authorities. At the start of the programme, each group of organisations was asked to appoint a project team from their own staff who could then look at how they could make a difference locally to people with long term conditions. Supported by NHS Employers, each team then had to draw up and implement an action plan with measurable objectives that included improving the patient experience, making services more efficient and improving career opportunities for staff. Other examples of success Southern Norfolk PCT has teamed up with Norwich & Norfolk Voluntary Services. Over 30 trained volunteers now spend time in the community, in hospitals and in residential homes, helping patients to choose meals from the menu and at mealtimes, putting in eye drops at home for people recovering from cataract surgery and supporting carers This enhances care and has freed up qualified nurses to care for patients with complex needs, and to support the community rapid response team in helping patients avoid hospital in the first place. Dacorum PCT and Watford and Three Rivers PCT have set up an early intervention service for people with long-term conditions such as COPD, heart failure and diabetes. Prior to the service, patients needing intermediate care services would have to see their GP, get referred to the district nurse and perhaps then referred to social care. They would then be sent to A&E and admitted to hospital while awaiting discharge to an intermediate care placement. The early intervention teams, comprising nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and healthcare assistants, work seven days a week and mean patients can now have direct access to intermediate care without having to be admitted unnecessarily to hospital. The new service is expected to save the NHS over £560,000 a year. Related publicationsImproving services for people with long-term conditions through large scale workforce change (915 kB PDF) Notes for editorsThe long term conditions programme was run by the Large Scale Workforce Change team, which is part of NHS Employers. The large scale workforce change team will be running four programmes in 2006/7 including: making effective use of temporary staff; using maternity support workers effectively; and hitting the 18 week wait target.
Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 27 Sep 2006 |
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