Hundreds of thousands of people diagnosed with long-term health conditions will receive extra help and support from expert charities, under a new service announced by the Prime Minister.
Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to trusted charities and support organisations as soon as they are diagnosed — providing personalised advice, information and guidance to help them manage their condition and feel more in control. This support is designed to complement, not replace, their usual NHS care.
With 1 in 4 people in the UK living with 2 or more long-term conditions, this early, tailored support is vital. Patients living with multiple health issues often face the greatest challenges and the highest risk of complications. By helping people understand and manage their conditions from day one, the new service will help:
- reduce flare-ups
- improve quality of life
- avoid unnecessary hospital visits
The service, due to be launched in 2026, will support a quarter of a million people in its first 2 years and focus on areas like diabetes, mental health and lung conditions. It will be scaled up to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years.
In its first stage, Diagnosis Connect will focus on patients diagnosed in primary care. Patients will be automatically connected with specialist charities that offer helplines, information, local support groups and services tailored to their condition.
As the programme expands, a digital referral system will allow NHS teams in all healthcare settings — including hospitals — to connect patients to a broad network of voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations.
