In recent years there have been major developments in how long term conditions are managed and so it is important nurses understand the rationale behind policy initiatives and their implications for practice. This timely book provides a unique examination of the sociology surrounding long term conditions and the experiences of the patients who have them. It examines the social context of chronic illness and contains individual chapters on the common long term conditions present in the United Kingdom today.

Introduction: E.Denny and S.Earle PART I: THEORY, POLICY AND RESEARCH Chronic Illness, Disability and the Politics of Health; E. Denny and S.Earle Long Term Conditions, Policy and Practice; A.Hewison and D.Cox Researching People with Long-term conditions G.Letherby PART II: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE 'It takes your breath away': The Social Setting of COPD; T.Heller Coronary Heart Disease: Moving from Acute to Long Term Accounts; L.Lockyer Policy and Practice for Diabetes Care; C.Lloyd and C.Skinner 'Getting to know myself': Changing Needs and Gaining Knowledge among People with Cancer; J.Tritter HIV/AIDS: A Highly Stigmatized Long Term Condition; E.Richardson Witness and Duty: Answering the Call to Speak for Dementia Sufferers in Advanced Illness; P.Savy Social Perspectives on Depression; A.Mitchell, E.Denny and S.Earle Obesity: A Long Term Condition?; S.Earle Heartsink Patients and Intractable Conditions; E.Denny Concluding Reflections; E.Denny and S.Earle.