Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS)

The LTCAS was launched in May 2006. It is an 'umbrella' group which aims to bring together voluntary and community organisations across Scotland to help meet the needs of people living with long term conditions such as asthma, diabetes and arthritis. The need for LTCAS was identified in the National Framework for Service Change in the NHS in Scotland (Kerr Report). 

The LTCAS's vision is for people with long-term conditions to be able to enjoy better control over their health and be able to live life to the full. They see 'people not patients' and value the knowledge and expertise that people with long-term conditions have about their health and encourage the participation by individuals in their own care. They aim to work in a broad, social context by supporting people with long-term conditions and working to influence and change policy.

There are an estimated two million people living with long-term conditions in Scotland, including 390,000 people with asthma, 900,000 with arthritis, 167,000 with diabetes, 40,000 with epilepsy, and and 700,000 with lung and respiratory problems. The groups representing people with these conditions often share the same aims and can work together effectively to improve the life of people with long-term conditions.