COLLABORATION
KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IS ANOTHER MAJOR FOCUS FOR HEALTHCARE AND, FOR THAT REASON, THE ROLE OF THE THIRD SECTOR – COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY – IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMMUNITY PHARMACY HAS NEVER BEEN SO VITALLY IMPORTANT.
SUPPORTING THE SELF-MANAGEMENT OF LONG-TERM CONDITIONS
As pharmacists, you’ll be more than aware of the needs of Scotland’s ageing population and of your increasing role in the management of issues such as long-term conditions and polypharmacy.
The Scottish Government’s action plan to improve care and support for people living with multiple conditions – ‘Many Conditions, One Life’ – actually contains ten actions to be taken forward by every Integrated Joint Board, including more regular reviews by pharmacists of people taking many medicines.
SP spoke to Katherine Byrne, Policy Manager at Chest Heart Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to find out more about how the work that they do in facing the challenge of the ageing population.
‘Over eleven per cent of Scotland’s population are living with chest and heart disease, or have had a stroke,’ Katherine told SP. ‘CHSS provides support and advice to this growing number of people, many of whom have multi-morbidities and need not just medical help but support for their long-term health and wellbeing. Third sector organisations such as CHSS play a key role in offering that support, right through the journey of post- acute NHS care to someone’s return to their home and community.
‘Due to advances in research and treatment, an increasing number of people are now surviving and living longer than ever before with heart and lung disease, and stroke. We know that the risk factors for these increase as we get older and, with an ageing population in Scotland, the numbers of people affected by chest and heart disease or stroke will continue to rise. For the first time there are now more people in Scotland aged over 65 than children, and the numbers of people
50 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
over 75 years are projected to increase by 85 per cent by 2039. Over ten per cent of people over 75 experience a stroke – one of the main causes of complex disability, with up to half of people surviving a stroke being left with a lasting disability.
‘But chest and heart disease, and stroke, don’t just affect our older population. For example, of the 14,000 people in Scotland who have a stroke each year, around a quarter will be of working age, and need long- term support to enable them to reach their goals.
‘With the integration of health and social care, there is a commitment to ensuring that people are placed at the centre of services, reinforcing the shift in recent years towards supporting people to self-manage their conditions. With the increasing pressures on the NHS, this has been underpinned at a strategic level through Self-Directed Support, the Self-Management Fund, and key documents like the recent Health and Social Care Delivery Plan.
‘But people don’t have to manage just the physical aspects of their
CHSS Advice Line: 0808 801 0899 or visit
www.chss.org.uk for more information
STATISTICS
Forty-six per cent of people in Scotland have at least one long-term condition, and most people aged over 65 have two or more long-term conditions.
Chest information
Sixty per cent of all deaths are attributable to long-term conditions, and they account for 80 per cent of all GP consultations.
People with long-term conditions are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital, and account for over 60 per cent of hospital bed days.
Heart information
conditions – just as critical are the social, economic, psychological and cultural impacts. In order to self manage successfully, people need confidence, motivation, skills and knowledge - which is often where the third sector steps in, playing a vital role in supporting people’s ongoing health and wellbeing.
‘CHSS does this through providing support and advice which helps people to self manage in many different ways. Our Freephone Advice Line provides medical, practical and emotional support to people affected by chest, heart or stroke conditions; support which also extends to family
members and health professionals too. We provide information and advice both online and in paper form, but have also developed innovative web- based support packages including
www.SelfHelp4Stroke.org, and
www.stroke4carers.org in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and NHS.
‘In communities across Scotland we provide a range of services, from rehabilitation support to volunteer- led peer-support groups. And our Voices programme has built a national network of people affected by chest, heart and stroke conditions, enabling them have their say and engage at a strategic level with the health service. Through workshops and ongoing support, people are provided with the knowledge, skills and confidence to work with the health and social care services, so that their expertise contributes to the planning of services.
‘Any pharmacists who feel that our services could be of use to their patients are welcome to signpost them to any of our services. Or, if you feel that you require more information about what CHSS could do for your patients, please contact us.’ •
Do you have any questions about chest heart or stroke illness?
ASK THE NURSE
Chest information
FREEPHONE 0808 801
Heart information
0899
Stroke information
For confidential help, support and advice, call our specialist nurses or visit
www.chss.org.uk
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) is a wholly Scottish charity Scottish Charity Number SC018761
Stroke information
Heart information
Stroke information
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