College shares open letter to Health Secretary on Major Conditions Strategy

28 Jun 2023

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has co-signed an open letter with the British Geriatrics Society and other leading health and care organisations regarding the proposed Major Conditions Strategy.

It follows the College’s consultation response to the proposed strategy, which focuses on clinical responses to prevent and manage six major conditions.

The letter expresses the organisations’ shared concern that the strategy appears to suggest there is a ‘hierarchy of illness’, while excluding multimorbidity and frailty. Many people, particularly older adults, will have more than one of the named conditions, or indeed others that are not included.

The letter also highlights that priorities must address wider health inequalities, exacerbated by factors such as protected characteristics, socioeconomic deprivation, poor housing, and homelessness, which affect prevention and long-term treatment.

It has also been signed by the National Care Forum, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of Physicians in London, and the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.

Together, we have urged the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to reconsider the Government’s approach to managing major conditions and commit to a holistic, patient-centred approach.

To read our open letter in full, click here.

Categories: College, Health Inequalities