Are you living with heart disease, cancer, diabetes or a respiratory condition, or do you work with people who do?

The Wellbeing and Public Health team at Cornwall Council are working with partners across the health, social care and voluntary sector to understand how to support people to self-manage their health conditions. 

On average, people living with a health condition spend just three hours per year with their health care team; the rest of the time they are managing day to day life with that condition on their own – or self-managing.

More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) from a national survey of more than 2,500 people with long-term conditions thought that more of their ongoing health problems could and should be managed independently at home.

In Cornwall, 68% of people feel supported to manage their long-term condition, better than the national average. 

Dr Alison Flanagan of Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group said: ‘We’re asking about a number of different types of support that people might use to self-manage. For example, do you use apps or devices to monitor your condition or would you like to? Have you taken steps to lead a healthier lifestyle? Do you go to a self-help group for people with the same condition?

‘As more and more of us are living with long term conditions, it is vital that people feel as supported and confident as possible.’  

Take part through cornwall.gov.uk