The AHP Professional Bodies met with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO), Suzanne Rastrick.
Subject discussed was AHP contributions to Health in and Ageing Society
BAPO, along with the other AHP Professional Bodies attended a face-to-face meeting in London with the CMO and CAHPO, called as part of an exercise to collate information relating to the ageing population and who health could be promoted to enable those living longer in England to live happier, healthier lives.
Context
The CAHPO’s AHP Strategy for England: AHPs Deliver, has been developed to provide direction to the AHP community across England; to help the AHPs maximise their contribution to improving health outcomes, provide better quality care, and improving sustainability of health and care services.
Focus
The challenges of the AHPs Deliver included those of an ageing population. The challenges are not uniformly distributed and will be greater in our rural and coastal communities. BAPO were able to add comment that this is especially a challenge for prosthetic services, where services are most frequently located in the larger urban locations. In addition, those from rural and coastal populations who need to access orthotic services, can find access difficult, often due to workforce challenges.
The governments’ objective is to promote health and enjoyment, so later life has quality, with dignity retained. As part of the levelling up agenda there is a goal to add an average of 5 years of healthy living, promoting this over longevity. Currently there in areas of poor health the average for healthy living is 19 years lower.
Noting the six major conditions which contribute to the burden of disease in England, which are;
- Cancers
- Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and diabetes
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Dementia
- Mental ill health
- Musculoskeletal disorders
These areas account for around 60% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years in England. Whilst prosthetic and orthotic services are positioned to treat ageing patients with all these conditions, BAPO confirmed that cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders are amongst the most common.
To support the achievement of the targets AHPs were encouraged to think how services could be commissioned with a focus on outcomes or outputs as opposed to inputs. BAPO were able to confirm that this is highly significant for prosthetic and orthotic services, where often service design is determined by the units and commodities purchased, including services and products, rather than the health outcomes achieved.
Summary
AHPs promoted the benefits of positive public health messages to the younger population, as healthy living in youth is related to health and wellbeing when ageing. The value of early rehabilitation to save money was highlighted, and this ties into enabling and empowering people to be able to work longer in good health and contribute positively to society. The message was good quality work supports good physical and mental health and APHs are effective in supporting this.
Recognising the significant economic challenges that an ageing population will create, it was accepted and recognised that AHPs will have to demonstrate that the care they provide is both effective and delivers value for money. However, in relative terms and when harnessed with a strong support worker resource AHPs are well placed to deliver many of the required solutions.
Final note and call to action to the professional bodies
It was confirmed that there is a call for evidence launched to invite views on how best to prevent, early diagnose, treat, and manage the 6 major groups of conditions which drive ill health and contribute to the burden of disease in the population in England[1].
The 6 major health conditions – cancer, cardiovascular diseases including stroke and diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, dementia, mental ill health, and musculoskeletal disorders – affect millions of people in England with data showing that one in 4 suffer from 2 or more of these major long-term conditions.
Recognising the pressure these conditions are putting on the NHS, the government is seeking views on a new strategy to tackle them that will focus not only on treatment but also on prevention[2].
This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 27 June[3].
[1] Government Action on Major Conditions and Diseases Written statements – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament
[2] Government invites views on tackling major conditions in England https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-invites-views-on-tackling-major-conditions-in-england
[3] https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/645cb4b614fbee6d990990c9