NOTE: RCPE contributed to this response which was submitted to the DHSSPS by the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom.
Views were sought on a draft Policy Framework for supporting people in Northern Ireland living with long term (or chronic) conditions. The overall aim of the draft policy framework is to improve the provision of services and care for adults in Northern Ireland who have one or more long term condition, irrespective of the nature of their condition(s) or the setting in which care is provided.
Purpose of the Document:
The purpose of this document is to provide a policy framework for Health and Social Care (HSC) commissioners, Trusts, the Public Health Agency, the voluntary and community sectors and independent care providers that will help them plan and develop more effective services to support people with long term conditions and their carers.
The policy framework document is not prescriptive in how people with long term conditions should be managed and supported. Rather it sets out a number of high level principles and values which should be embedded in the overall approach to management and support. The aim of the document is to secure better outcomes and help people with long term conditions, and their carers, get the best from the health and social care system. At a time of financial constraint, it will also aim to ensure that those resources that are in place are deployed as effectively and efficiently as possible to support good practice in long term condition management.
This document therefore should be used as a reference point and strategic driver in the reform and modernisation of services to support people with long term conditions. Primarily it should inform and guide the development of the HSC Board’s Commissioning Plans, whilst also influencing HSC Trust Delivery Plans and other more detailed operational guidelines at regional and local level.
The document is also intended to be a useful source of reference for people with long term conditions, setting out the services they and their carers should expect as a result of working in partnership with their HSC and other care providers. Importantly it also outlines the contribution that self management can make in ensuring the best outcomes for their personal health and well-being and quality of life.
The document is predicated on the belief that improving services and support for people with long term conditions cannot be taken forward by the HSC and health professionals alone. It will involve working in partnership with people with long term conditions and their carers. It will also depend on building on the considerable amount of work already being undertaken with the voluntary and independent sectors, and with other Government Departments and agencies, to develop policies and joined-up services to support people with long term conditions and their carers.
