Long-term solutions to long-term conditions?

Last week in Parliament the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) were raising awareness about the need for better support for people with long term conditions in Scotland.

Figures from LTCAS show that some 32287 people in Cumbernauld & Kilsyth, and around 2 million people across Scotland as a whole are living with long term conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, M.E., skin conditions, mental health problems, diabetes, heart disease, cystic fibrosis and cancer.

I was happy to support LTCAS’ vision for a Scotland where people living with long term conditions enjoy, not endure, full and positive lives, free from discrimination and aided by high quality services, support and information.

Without proper support, long term conditions can be very debilitating, and the worryingly large number families and individuals in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth affected by such conditions should not be denied their rights to full and positive life experiences.

The MSP Pledge from LTCAS reads:

“I support LTCAS’ vision for a Scotland where people living with long term conditions enjoy, not endure, full and positive lives, free from discrimination and supported by high quality services, support and information. I agree to: Recognise the significance of the challenge of long term conditions and work to improve the lives of the estimated 2 million people living with long term conditions in Scotland; Support increased resources for self management so that people have access to the information, education and support they need to successfully manage, and live well with, their condition(s); Support measures to improve transitions between services, for example child to adult, adult to older person, hospital to home.”