Long-term conditions assessment

What help should you expect?

This self-assessment will help you to find out if you are receiving the right kind of care and support for your situation.


At the end it will provide you with a printable checklist, plus advice on what further help you may be entitled to.

Questions

  1. How well do you understand your health condition?
    1. I’m not confident that I understand my condition
      • Ask your GP, nurse or careworker for more info on your condition
    2. I know a bit about my condition but would like to know more
      • Ask your GP, nurse or careworker for more info on your condition
    3. I think I understand my condition well
  2. Do you know what having a long-term condition means?
    1. No, I don’t know what this means
    2. Yes, I have a good understanding of what this means
  3. How do you feel about your medication?
    1. I wish I didn’t take as many medicines as I do
      • See your GP to review your medicines
    2. The medicines I take have significant side effects
      • See your pharmacist about taking your medicines
    3. I have no problems with the medicines I take
  4. Have you agreed a care plan with your GP, nurse or care worker?
    1. No
      • Talk to your GP, nurse or careworker about care plans
    2. Yes, but I don’t feel my care plan is working for me
      • Review your care plan with your GP, nurse or care worker
    3. Yes, I’m happy with my care plan and the care I receive
  5. Do you know where to go for the information you need, such as finding out about how to manage your condition or what treatments might be right for you?
    1. No, I’m not sure where to start
      • Create your own information prescription
    2. Yes, I know where to go for the information I need
      • Consider being an expert patient or trainer
    3. I do know where to go for some things, but not everything
      • Create your own information prescription
  6. Have you been offered training in managing and living with your condition?
    1. No, I haven’t been offered training
      • Speak to your GP, nurse or care worker about training
    2. Yes, I have been for free NHS training
      • Consider being an expert patient or trainer
    3. Yes, but I don’t think that training is for me
      • Consider the flexible training programmes
  7. Have you been offered any equipment or aids to help you manage at home?
    1. No, I don’t have any aids or equipment at home
      • Ask your GP, nurse or care worker about equipment that could help
    2. Yes, I already have some equipment to help me look after myself or my condition
      • Arrange a home assessment through your GP, nurse or care worker
    3. Yes, I’ve had a home assessment
  8. Do you know about any local or national patient groups where you can share experiences and tips?
    1. No, I’m not aware of any local or national groups for people like me
      • Ask your GP for details on patient groups
    2. I’d like to meet other people like me but I don’t know where to start
      • Ask your GP for details on patient groups
    3. Yes, I am in touch with a local patient support group
  9. Are you struggling to make lifestyle changes like losing weight or stopping smoking?
    1. I don’t think changing my lifestyle would make much difference to my health
      • Ask your GP about lifestyle changes that could help
    2. I want to change my lifestyle, as I know it would help my condition but I’m finding it difficult
      • Ask your GP about lifestyle changes that could help
    3. I’ve already made changes in my life, such as stopping smoking, and feel much better for it