Engagement on Long Term Conditions

Living with a long-term condition can be challenging, and everyone’s experience is unique. Conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and COPD require ongoing management, and the right support can make a huge difference in daily life. 

While healthcare professionals provide vital treatment and advice, patients and the public also play a key role in shaping how services are designed and delivered. By getting involved, whether through sharing your experiences, taking part in consultations, or joining support groups, you can help improve the support available for those managing long-term conditions. 

Public involvement ensures that services reflect real needs and priorities. Whether you are living with a condition yourself, caring for someone who is, or simply passionate about improving healthcare, your voice matters. 

Ways to get involved

  • Participate in patient feedback groups or consultations.
  • Join local or online communities supporting those with long-term conditions.
  • Help raise awareness and share experiences to improve understanding and services. 

Your insights can help shape better health services and improve the quality of life for many. 

Tackling Health Inequalities in Surrey – cardiovascular disease prevention programme

Surrey Heartlands is implementing a cardiovascular disease prevention program aimed at addressing health inequalities, particularly focusing on cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and respiratory conditions. The initiative seeks to raise awareness and improve health outcomes within the community.

Building stronger networks

To enhance engagement, Surrey Heartlands established dedicated networks for diabetes and respiratory health:

  • Diabetes network: Collaboration with voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) groups is underway, including partnerships with organisations like Active Surrey and Diabetes UK to improve outreach and support.
  • Respiratory programme: Potential collaborations with Asthma and Lung UK are being explored to strengthen respiratory health initiatives.

Addressing unique challenges

Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) populations face distinct challenges regarding CVD and diabetes. They are influenced by factors such as deprivation, cultural dietary habits, healthcare access, and genetic predispositions. The Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) is actively engaging with these communities to identify and mitigate the root causes of health inequalities, launching the Health and Race Project in 2023.

SMEF’s health and race project

Vision and aims

The project's vision is to ensure equitable access to healthcare resources for all individuals, fostering healthier communities. The aims include:

  • Advocating for a distinct BME voice in health strategy development.
  • Facilitating meaningful engagement with BME communities to tailor services to their needs.
  • Providing culturally competent messaging to enhance awareness and access to health services.

Community-focused health events

In partnership with NHS Alliance for Better Care, SMEF organised health clinics in Woking during summer and autumn 2023. These targeted awareness of diabetes, hypertension, and CVD among Asian women who were not utilising GP health checks . The clinics offered various services, including:

  • Blood pressure checks
  • Blood tests for cholesterol and glucose
  • Body mass index (BMI) assessments
  • Mental health support
  • Smoking cessation services
  • Vaccinations
  • Weight management assistance

Participants were referred to additional services, including GPs and mental health support, following their health checks. SMEF also conducted talks for women's groups emphasising the importance of accessing NHS health checks for overall health and wellbeing.

Together Type 1 event for Children and Young People

In April 2024, a two-day Together Type 1 event took place at the Children and Young People’s Haven in Epsom, aimed at young people aged 11-16 with type 1 diabetes. The event featured various activities such as cooking classes, creating a tree of life, graffiti art, and co-production workshops to engage participants and foster community support.

The initiative emerged from the NHS Core20PLUS5 approach, which seeks to address health inequalities by connecting with children and their families in various settings, including schools and community centres. The goal is to reduce barriers to health and wellbeing services.

Collaboration

The event was a joint effort involving multiple organisations, including the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), Diabetes UK, Surrey Youth Worker Service, and local diabetes service clinicians. This collaboration aimed to provide a supportive environment for young people to share their experiences and emotions related to diabetes .

Peer support focus

Young participants were invited to engage in peer support activities, allowing them to build relationships and discuss their feelings about living with diabetes. A co-production workshop enabled them to co-design future peer support services, addressing concerns about their condition and its impact on their lives .

Issues addressed

The event aimed to tackle several critical issues faced by young people with diabetes:

  • Raising awareness of long-term conditions to reduce isolation.
  • Supporting parents dealing with post-traumatic stress following their child's diagnosis.
  • Enhancing psychological support for mental health and wellbeing.
  • Reducing instances of self-harm and suicide among adolescents.
  • Preventing avoidable complications related to diabetes.

Participant experiences

Feedback from children, young people, and their families highlighted various challenges, including:

  • Anxiety in managing diabetes and fear of blood sugar fluctuations.
  • Feelings of isolation in social and school settings.
  • Difficulties in finding safe spaces for insulin injections.
  • Concerns about being reprimanded for managing their condition at school.

Outcomes

The event contributed to the development of a partnership social model pilot, integrating Youth Workers into transition clinics. This initiative aims to support young people transitioning from children's to adult services, allowing them to choose meeting locations and engage in health-promoting activities.

Further information on support for children and young people living with diabetes is available through Healthy Surrey and NASP.