Long term conditions

Occupational therapy assessment and intervention is of key importance for many people with long term conditions (chronic conditions in Wales)

Occupational therapists are trained holistically. Therefore we are well placed to assist clients overcome, manage and come to terms with both the physical and psychological aspects of their conditions.
Long-term conditions include many illnesses and disabilities, ranging from arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and epilepsy to spinal cord injury, stroke and Parkinson's.
Managing long term conditions effectively is critical in the United Kingdom because a large proportion of the population is already living with a long term conditions and because we have an ageing population.
Find out more about the management principles for long term conditions, and information about promoting self management.
 

In England:

• 15.4 million people in England, or almost one in three of the population, have a long term condition
• the number of people in England with a long term condition is set to rise by 23% over the next 25 years

Key statistics for people with long-term conditions from the Department of Health website.
 
Find out more about Long Term Conditions in England
 

In Wales:

• 1/3 of all adults in Wales report having at least one chronic condition.
• There is a higher proportion of reported limiting long term illness (23%) compared with other UK countries.

Information from: Designed to improve Health and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Wales 2007/8.
 
Find out more about Chronic Conditions in Wales.
 

In Northern Ireland:

• mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) are amongst the highest in Europe, with 2,708 deaths being attributed to CHD in 2005.
• 30,000 people in Northern Ireland are stroke survivors
• between 3,500-4,000 people have MS
• around 40,000 people living with a diagnosis of cancer
• 230,000 people with arthritis.

Information from Long term Conditions - Working Together Conference/Department of Health and Social Services (2008).
 
Find out more about Long Term Conditions in Northern Ireland.
 

In Scotland:

• There are an estimated two million people livivng with long term conditions in Scotland.

Source LTCAS website: www.ltcas.org.uk
 
Find out more about Long Term Conditions in Scotland.