How Should Health Policy Respond To The Growing Challenge Of Multimorbidity?: We need patient-centred care, with more emphasis on generalist rather than specialist care and better integration between general practice, hospitals and social care: (Policy Report 39)

University of Bristol, Policy Bristol, October 2018
The number of people with multiple long-term conditions, known as multimorbidity, is rising internationally, putting increased pressure on health care systems, including the NHS. Researchers from the 3D Study – the largest ever trial of a person-centred approach to caring for patients with multimorbidity in primary care. This report discusses the challenges facing general practice and how the health care system needs to respond.  People with multimorbidity – one or more long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia – are more likely to experience poor quality of life and poor physical and mental health. They use both general practice and hospital services far more often than the general population. However, healthcare systems around the world are largely designed to manage individual diseases or episodes of illness rather than patients with complex multiple health care needs.
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