Three leading patient organisations have today launched  the ‘Commissioning Toolkit for Long-term Conditions’  a new website tool, that will help shape better health services for people with long-term conditions.  The key aim of the new website is to improve services for people living with long-term conditions by assisting the commissioners who plan and secure health services at both a PCT and GP practice-based level.

The toolkit has been designed by Asthma UK, Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation, the Picker Institute and the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance.  As well as offering in-depth information about asthma, heart disease and diabetes, the website will provide an accessible gateway to legislation, guidance and other material to aid the commissioning process.

Chief Executive of Asthma UK www.asthma.org.uk, Donna Covey, says: ‘This project heralds a new era in effective partnership working between health service commissioners and the organisations representing people with long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

Peter Hollins, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk says: ‘This is an innovative online resource and we’re delighted to support its launch. Health service commissioners can have a challenging job working out how best to spend money on long term health care. But this toolkit, with its input from experienced commissioners, should help make it easier for them to develop high quality services for patients suffering from long-term illnesses.

Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK www.diabetes.org.uk says: ‘’Patient driven services are the future and this toolkit is a huge step towards making this vision a reality.  Commissioning can have a huge effect on the standards of diabetes care.  We hope this resource will lead the way in helping commissioners ensure that services truly meet local needs, so that patients experience real benefit.’

The ‘Commissioning Toolkit for Long-term Conditions’ the first project of its kind, this interactive resource will provide in-depth information about long-term conditions and guidance on how and when commissioners can effectively work with local people to establish the best service provision.

For further information Visit: www.commissioningforthelongterm.org.uk