Living with multiple long term health conditions

Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire undertook a survey of people with at least two long term health conditions because they became aware that multiple long term health conditions is becoming a priority for many statutory authorities.  60 people responded to their survey.

Survey respondents disclosed that they had a wide range of different conditions, including diabetes, mental health, heart, respiratory and auto-immune conditions.  Two thirds of the people who took part in the survey said that their health conditions impacted on their lives to a large extent and the comments that were made gave in an insight into the range of ways that their lives are affected. These included impacts on mobility, mental health, and their independence as well as how it affected them socially in their relationships and activities and how their daily routine was affected.

The responses show how living with more than one long term condition can significantly affect all aspects of an individual’s life. People generally felt that they were involved in the decision making about their care and most people were either very confident or somewhat confident in self managing their conditions. When asked about if they felt that professionals saw the whole person rather than a health condition there were similar numbers that felt they were seen as a whole person to those who felt that their health condition was seen in isolation.

The report contains five recommendations.