Executive summary of One in four: A manifesto for people with multiple health conditions. This summary highlights what isn't working for people living with multiple long-term conditions, why it is so important to focus on this group of people, and our recommendations for government and national system leaders
The Richmond Group of Charities represents more that 15 million people living with long-term health conditions and, as our population ages, this number is set to grow. One in four of us are now living with at least two health conditions. We think getting it right more people with multiple health conditions holds the key to a stronger NHS. This manifesto demonstrates why the current system doesn’t work for people living with multiple health conditions, and what a better system could look like. It outlines the three main actions needed from government and national system leaders to secure the fundamental shift in approach: 1) support for people with multiple health conditions to live well 2) a drive towards the redesign of multiple conditions care 3) promotion of health in all policies.
This report draws together data, insight and patient stories from The Richmond Group’s 12 member charities, with wider evidence, about the impact of the pandemic on people living with long-term, chronic or complex illnesses, who were amongst the hardest hit and still now find themselves lagging far behind in terms of recovering their health and well-being. Our analysis highlights the issues for this group of people before the pandemic, the impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, and the ongoing and long-term effects.
Sara Hazzard, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, responds to our 'You Only Had To Ask' report on what people with multiple conditions say about health equity.
Peter Goldblatt, Senior Advisor, UCL Institute of Health Equity, responds to our 'You Only Had To Ask' report on what people with multiple conditions say about health equity.
Marking the culmination of three years of the Taskforce on Mutliple Conditions work and representing its final output, this report sets out the findings from ethnographic research to better understand life for people experiencing inequity and disadvantage and how this impacts the management of their multiple long-term conditions. The research was conducted by Revealing Reality for the Taskforce on Multiple Conditions, who work to ensure that people living with multiple conditions have their voices heard by policymakers and practitioners.
From 11 May to 6 July 2021, The Taskforce on Multiple Conditions worked with Kaleidoscope Health and Care to run a series of digital events to raise awareness of – and explore solutions to tackle – the issues at the intersections between Multiple Long Term Conditions (MLTCs) and health equity.
These ‘learn and share’ events were designed to explore how primary care networks (PCNs), alongside local government, NHS and third sector organisations can work together to design solutions to support people living with multiple conditions.
