Understanding your priorities
We know that the three main challenges you face in providing healthcare services for patients with long-term conditions are:
- Increasing demand on services
More than 15 million people in England live with one or more long-term condition and this number if set to rise exponentially in the next 10 years. It’s been described by Sir John Oldham as a ‘tsunami of need’. Long-term conditions patients currently account for 70% of NHS spend
- Urgent need to reduce expenditure
You face tough decisions in order to reduce expenditure to reach your QIPP targets and meet NHS cost savings
- Requirement to provide patient-centred care
The NHS Mandate calls for support and empowerment of patients with long-term conditions so that they stay independent and have a better quality of life
We understand the pressures created by this pincer movement of increasing demand coupled with reducing resources. We have a solution that offers cost benefits to the service, health benefits to the patients, a reduction in service usage and an increase in patient engagement. Self management is the No.1 priority for commissioners according to the King’s Fund.
With over 10 years’ experience in this sector, we have proven results from providing self management services to patients with long-term conditions.
Understanding the bigger picture
When we look at the overall picture of health provision for long-term conditions, the statistics make for stark reading:
- More than 15 million people in England live with at least one long-term condition
- They represent 55% of GP appointments; 68% of outpatient, accident and emergency attendances and 77% of inpatient bed days
- They account for around 70% of NHS spending
- By 2018 nearly three million people will have three or more long-term conditions [Source: Department of Health]
The self management solution
Self management is the No.1 commissioning solution from a policy perspective because it provides the best form of intervention to reduce the burden on the NHS from the growing LTC need. The benefits of self management for commissioners and clinicians:
- Cost effective
Self management can save the NHS millions of pounds. Research into self management programmes has shown an average saving of £452.per patient per year by reducing:
- healthcare professional visits
- outpatient appointments
- A&E attendances
- hospital inpatient bed days
- medication costs
- Reduces burden on professional time
Peer-led self management engages patients to become more involved in their own care and activated to better manage their symptoms. As a result, patients use the healthcare system more efficiently.
- It works
- Self management impproves clinical outcomes. Studies have shown a direct relationship between supporting self management and improved clinical outcomes.
- Self management improves clinical symptoms. Peer-led self management support can improve physical symptoms in people with any long-term condition including: arthritis, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, heart failure, stroke, cancer.
- Self management improves quality of life. Peer-led self management education leads to positive behaviours and psychological outcomes, reduced stress and improved quality of life.
- Supports patient participation at all levels
Self management provides the skills and confidence for patients to communicate more effectively. Improved interactions are reported by clinicians and patients. A high percentage of patients take up voluntary roles within their local community. For every £1 invested in self management some £6.50 of social value is created .
