Over the past four years, GP practices locally have been moving to a new way of helping patients with long-term conditions like COPD and heart disease.
This new way of working – known as care and support planning – means patients are better supported to manage their conditions, helping them to receive effective care at the right time.
The long-term conditions group – whose members all have one or more long term conditions – works with practices in Gateshead and Newcastle to change the way they organise appointments and provide support for people with problems like diabetes, heart disease or breathing conditions.

With support from the CCG’s involvement team, this group meets every month to discuss issues around living with long term conditions, to influence health care and encourage other people with experience of long term conditions to get involved and share their knowledge.
If you would to find out more, please contact our involvement team.