Just one thing after another

Taskforce on Multiple Conditions

Richmond Group of Charities, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Royal College of General Practitioners

Summary

People are increasingly likely to be living with more than one long term health condition, yet there is a significant evidence gap around their lived experience. Our research sought to bring the experiences to life of this previously under-represented population.

Detail

We conducted in-depth research with 10 people from across England living with multiple long-term conditions. The interviews, conducted in participants’ homes, covered their interactions with the health and care systems, support networks, coping strategies and the changes participants had made, or had been forced to make, over time.

Our ethnographic style of research allowed us to understand the wider effects of their illness – the consequences of their conditions were often cumulative, the appearance of a new problem would worsen the other and not only had an impact on their physical well-being but also other aspects of their life such as their jobs, families and friendships.

To minimise these cumulative effects the report recommends that professionals and carers do as much as they can to promote mobility, encourage the person to take an active role in the management of their conditions and help the person identify achievable goals.

Films made by our production team told the stories of people living with multiple conditions:

Mobility

Social connectedness

Relationship with healthcare professionals 

Mental wellbeing