ABSTRACT
This chapter sets the scene, beginning with a definition of chronic disease/ long-term condition (LTC) management. It provides an overview of the current incidence and prevalence of LTCs in the UK and further afield. The current UK policy drivers leading the way forward are discussed including National Service Frameworks (NSFs), National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in the new General Medical Services (nGMS) contract. Theoretical frameworks and service delivery models, which were initiated in the USA and have been adapted both in the UK and other countries, such as the Chronic Care Model, Evercare and Kaiser Permanente, are introduced and discussed.
