PEOPLE living with long-term health conditions are finding it increasingly difficult to access the support services they need to be able to live the life they want, new public research has found.
The research, commissioned by independent health and wellbeing charity the Thistle Foundation, confirms that almost one in three Scottish households is now home to at least one person living with a long-term illness, health problem or disability.
At 30%, this figure has remained stable over the last five years but the research also shows that the percentage of households finding it difficult to access the right support services for someone living with a long-term condition has risen from 28% to 36% in the same time span.
“The findings of this latest research demonstrate the huge impact long-term conditions are having on the Scottish population as a whole,” said the charity’s chief executive, Diana Noel Paton.
“Addressing the needs of people in Scotland living with long-term health conditions ought to be a public health priority and the fact that a growing number are finding it difficult to access support should be a real cause for concern.”
She said demand for Thistle’s support from people living with long-term conditions in Edinburgh and the Lothians had never been greater.
“A key strength of Thistle is that people needing support can self-refer,” she said. “We listen to what a person tells us they need and we tailor our support around that.”
Dawn, who turned to Thistle after being medically retired at the age of 40 with severe back pain, said:”Thistle listened and worked with me to develop my physical and emotional health until I was able to realise my personal dream to be able to swim again.
“I am also back at work, working as a health and wellbeing practitioner at Thistle.”
Publication of the new research coincides with an ongoing campaign by Thistle to “stop the wait” as demand for its services has intensified, leading to sometimes lengthy waiting times at its Centre of Wellbeing in Edinburgh.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here