Patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities when diagnosed by their GP, the government has announced.
The service, called Diagnosis Connect, will launch next year and is expected to support 250,000 people in its first two years, including those with diabetes, mental health issues and lung conditions.
Patients in primary care will receive personalised support and information through the NHS App to help them manage their condition and reduce the need for hospital visits.
The scheme replaces the current approach, where people are often given a leaflet or phone number and left to seek help on their own. Instead, patients will be directly connected to trusted charities offering helplines, local support groups and tailored services.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the service at the Civil Society Summit at the Science Museum in London, describing it as part of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. The programme will be expanded to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said being diagnosed with a long-term condition can be overwhelming.
“People are often handed a leaflet or a phone number and left to find help themselves – right when they’re feeling scared, confused and unsure where to turn.
“We’re changing that. Just as people with cancer or dementia are often guided to well-known charities for specialist advice and support, this new service will make sure patients with other long-term conditions are directly referred to trusted organisations from the moment they’re diagnosed.”
Diagnosis Connect will not replace usual NHS care, but aims to improve quality of life and help people manage their condition, potentially reducing flare-ups and avoidable hospital admissions.
With an initial focus on primary care, the programme will expand to include a digital referral system allowing NHS teams across all healthcare settings to connect patients with voluntary sector organisations.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “We have recently been trialling a similar programme to ensure people affected by stroke know about our services right from the point of diagnosis.
“So, we’re confident that Diagnosis Connect can help transform the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation for the 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK today and their loved ones.”
Duleep Allirajah, chief executive of the Richmond Group of Charities, which helped develop the proposal, said: “We are delighted that the government, as part of its 10-Year Health Plan, has committed to this pioneering digitally enabled service, helping more people diagnosed with health conditions to manage through expert support from charities.”
Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “We are delighted to see Diagnosis Connect being taken up by the government, an approach Asthma + Lung UK has already championed as a game-changer for people newly diagnosed with lung conditions.
“As the NHS shifts its focus from moving more care out of hospital and into the community, ensuring people have access to advice and support to manage chronic health conditions is crucial.”
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “This is a welcome initiative that rightly recognises the vital role expert charity support plays in helping patients manage long-term conditions.
“Our work shows that patients living in underserved neighbourhoods often struggle to get the information they need and face barriers when communicating with healthcare professionals.
“Early access to trusted charities at the point of diagnosis can make a real difference.”
