Fundamental aspects of long-term conditions - Helen McVeigh

Providing support and care for individuals with a long-term condition is an essential feature of modern health care. Over 15 million people in England currently have a long-term condition, and it is predicted that these numbers will continue to rise. Treating the range of long-term conditions that affect the population will therefore play an important role for health professionals. This book is an essential guide to long-term conditions, exploring the key principles of practice, skills and policy.

This book aims to raise your awareness of long-term conditions, their management and the implications of living with chronic illness. It takes a patient-centred, holistic approach, which aims to help you understand that an individual’s response to having a long-term condition is both complex and unique to them.

Chapters are introduced with a list of suggested learning outcomes. Each chapter highlights the epidemiology and demography of specific conditions nd draws attention to relevant policy supporting health care. A needs-led focus on the patient is used, including physical, social, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and environmental issues. Case history examples and scenarios are used to illustrate aspects of need and the issues discussed. Within each chapter, you will find questions related to content and points for reflection.

This book sets a challenge to student nurses and those embarking on their nursing career pathway, that supporting patients with long-term conditions is the responsibility of all nurses.This book should make you think about how you can make a difference in the lives of those managing with a long term condition. It should enable you to take a holistic perspective in the care, management and support of these patients.


Helen McVeigh is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Care at De Montfort University Leicester. She is a qualified
District Nurse. She has over 20 years experience of working in Primary Care working in both rural and inner city practices.


'Fundamental Aspects of Long-Term Conditions is an easy-to-read textbook, ideal to dip in and out of ... The topics explored are extremely wide-ranging, from physical conditions to psychological illness including severe mental illness, addiction, and palliative care. Fiona Peniston-Bird, Independent advisor in the development of non-medical prescribing, in Nurse Prescribing, Vol 8, No 9.