A Lothians-based charity is urging more support for people living with long-term health conditions as new research shows that a growing number of people in Scotland living with such conditions is finding it difficult to access the support they need to be able to live the life they want.
Commissioned by leading independent health and wellbeing charity the Thistle Foundation, the research confirms that almost one in three Scottish households is now home to at least one person living with a long term illness, health problem or disability. At 30%, this figure has remained stable since the previous survey. But the research also shows that the percentage of these households who find it difficult to access the right support for someone living with a long term condition has risen from 28% to 36% over the past five years
Long-term conditions are defined by the research as being an illness, health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months. Undertaken in late 2017, the survey of 1,000 Scottish adults mirrors a similar exercise undertaken in May 2013. Responses were weighted to be representative of the Scottish population as a whole in terms of age, sex and class and the results were also broken down by geographic region.
The research suggests there are significant regional variations in the percentage of households affected by long-term health conditions and how easy or difficult people with such conditions find it to access the support services they need to live the life they want. But across Scotland as a whole, significantly more people with long term conditions are now finding it difficult to find suitable support services than five years ago.
Established in 1944, the Thistle Foundation is an independent charity which provides support for people living with long term health conditions such as MS, arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue or post-traumatic stress disorder. Thistle takes a ‘person-centred’ approach, meaning that the focus is on the person rather than their health condition or situation.
Publication of the new research findings coincides with an ongoing campaign by Thistle to ‘stop the wait’ as demand for its services from people living with long term health conditions has intensified, leading to sometimes lengthy waiting times at its Centre of Wellbeing in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh.
Commenting on the research findings, Thistle Chief Executive Diana Noel Paton said: “These latest research findings reflect our own experience: A huge number of Scottish households are home to at least one person living with a long term health condition – and with funding for support services under concerted pressure, a growing number of people with a long term condition are finding it difficult to access the support they need to live the life they want.
“Against that background, demand for Thistle’s support from people living with long term health conditions in Edinburgh and the Lothians has never been stronger. A key strength of Thistle is that people needing support can self-refer. We listen to what a person tells us they need and we then tailor our support around that. We then work beside people until they are able to manage life without us.”
Dawn, a Thistle wellbeing practitioner, can speak from personal experience about how Thistle’s services have helped her to overcome her own physical and mental health challenges and to get her life back on-track.
Dawn said: “I came to Thistle having been medically retired at the age of 40 with severe back pain and told I could never work again. Thistle listened and worked with me to develop my physical and emotional health until I was able to realise my personal dream to be able to swim again. I am also back at work, working as a health and wellbeing practitioner at Thistle, which I love.
“More and more people with long term conditions are finding out about Thistle and coming to us for support. This has meant that last year, for the first time in over ten years, there was a waiting list at Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing in Craigmillar. Intervening early is crucial to give those using Thistle’s services the best possible chance of recovering their health and living the life they want – which is why our ‘stop the wait’ campaign is so important.”
Diana Noel Paton concluded: “The findings of this latest research demonstrate the huge impact long term conditions are having on the Scottish population as a whole.
“Addressing their needs ought to be a public health priority and the fact that a growing number of people in Scotland with long-term health conditions are finding it difficult to access the support services they need should be a real cause for concern.
“I would urge government at all levels to make supporting people with long term health conditions an absolute priority so that many more people like Dawn can be supported to recover their mental and physical wellbeing and to start getting their lives back on-track.”
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