GP patients with long-term conditions to be referred to charities

Patients with long-term conditions will automatically be connected with trusted charities when they are diagnosed by the GP, the Government has announced.

Launching next year, the service to be called Diagnosis Connect will support a quarter of a million people in the first two years with conditions such as diabetes, mental health and lung conditions.

Patients in primary care will be connected with charities through the NHS App when they are diagnosed to receive personalised advice, information and guidance to help them manage their condition and ‘feel more in control’.

It will not replace their usual NHS care but by helping people manage their condition, the approach could help reduce flare-ups, improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital visits, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

The service – part of the 10-Year Health Plan – will be scaled up to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years, he added speaking at the Civil Society Summit at the Science Museum in London.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said being diagnosed with a long-term condition could be overwhelming.

‘People are often handed a leaflet or a phone number and left to find help themselves -right when they’re feeling scared, confused and unsure where to turn.

‘We’re changing that. Just as people with cancer or dementia are often guided to well-known charities for specialist advice and support, this new service will make sure patients with other long-term conditions are directly referred to trusted organisations from the moment they’re diagnosed.’

Specialist charities will offer helplines, information, local support groups and tailored services to those who are referred through the scheme.

With an initial focus in primary care, it is expected that as the programme expands, a digital referral system will allow NHS teams in all healthcare settings to connect patients with charities and voluntary sector organisations.

Juliet Bouverie, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: ‘We have recently been trialling a similar programme to ensure people affected by stroke know about our services right from the point of diagnosis.

‘So, we’re confident that Diagnosis Connect can help transform the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation for the 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK today and their loved ones.

Duleep Allirajah, chief executive of The Richmond Group of Charities who helped develop the proposal, said: ‘We are delighted that the government, as part of its 10 Year Health Plan, has committed to this pioneering digitally enabled service, helping more people diagnosed with health conditions to manage through expert support from charities.’

Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma+Lung UK, said: ‘We are delighted to see Diagnosis Connect being taken up by the government, an approach Asthma + Lung UK has already championed as a game-changer for people newly diagnosed with lung conditions.

‘As the NHS shifts its focus from moving more care out of hospital and into the community, ensuring people have access to advice and support to manage chronic health conditions is crucial.’

Rachel Power, chief executive of The Patients Association said: ‘This is a welcome initiative that rightly recognises the vital role expert charity support plays in helping patients manage long-term conditions.

‘Our work shows that patients living in underserved neighbourhoods often struggle to get the information they need and face barriers when communicating with healthcare professionals.

‘Early access to trusted charities at the point of diagnosis can make a real difference.’

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