Debate on long-term conditions

Long-term conditions are chronic illnesses that require ongoing management over many years. They cannot be cured but may be controlled through medicines and other care.  Examples include both communicable diseases, such as HIV, and non-communicable diseases, like cancers, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis (MS), mental health problems and arthritis. The presence of two or more long-term conditions in an individual is referred to as ‘multimorbidity’. 

The exact number of people experiencing long-term conditions varies depending on the precise definition of a long-term condition being used. The National Institute for Heath and Care Research (NIHR), for example, reports that “more than one in four of the adult population in England lives with two or more conditions”.  

The government set out its approach to improving the health outcomes and experiences of people living with long-term conditions in April 2025. It noted that “most services” for people with long-term conditions were “commissioned locally by integrated care boards” which, it said, were “best placed to plan the provision of local services”. It added that its forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan will include information about care and support for people with long-term conditions, and that it will continue to fund research in this area. 

The government has also introduced initiatives to support more people into work, including those with health conditions. In November 2024, the UK Government published the Get Britain Working White Paper and a new supported employment programme, Connect to Work, was introduced as part of the white paper. This programme will look to assist people with health conditions into sustainable work and, from 2026/27, will look to support up to 100,000 people per year.  

Between 18 March and 5 June 2025, the government consulted on its green paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working. The green paper sets out the government’s plans to reform the health and disability benefits system to promote and enable employment.