Evaluation highlights areas for improvement in long term conditions care

Evaluation highlights areas for improvement in long term conditions care Older people living with multiple long term conditions are generally happy with the NHS but often find the health and care system is not set up for their needs.

That is the main finding of an ethnographic evaluation carried out by the Ipsos Ethnography Centre of Excellence (ECE) – part of Ipsos MORI – who were invited to undertake the work by NHS Improving Quality.

The ethnographic evaluation is an in depth approach to understanding people and their behaviours over a period of time.

The key findings include:

• People greatly value the care and support they receive from the NHS and the wider health and care sector, and in the main feel the care they receive is good.
• People are trying hard to manage their long term conditions to the best of their abilities, but often feel the system is not set up to cope with their multiple and complex needs.
• People with more than one long term condition struggle to coordinate them all. They can feel there is no support linking all of their conditions and focusing on them personally and holistically.
• People with long term conditions want to have everyday achievable goals and support that fit realistically within their everyday lives.
• People can feel that they are a burden within their home as well as within the health and care system, which can prevent them seeking the help and support they need.
• Too often, there is an absence of discussion about care and care needs, within the home and within the health care system.

The work has been delivered through NHS Improving Quality’s Long Term Conditions Improvement Programme, which is commissioned by NHS England

See also:

• Navigating Health and Care: Living independently with long term conditions Ipsos MORI