Patients with long-term conditions to receive help from charities
From January 2026, hundreds of thousands of patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis through the government’s new Diagnosis Connect service.
Diagnosis Connect will link patients directly with trusted charities and support organisations. The aim is to complement, not replace, core NHS services by providing patients with more personalised advice, information, and guidance — helping them better manage their condition and feel more in control.
The service will initially focus on diabetes, mental health, and lung conditions, with plans to expand in the coming years.
Importance of Accreditation
At WMUK, we are pleased to see the government recognising the vital role civil society organisations play in providing accurate information and support.
We are working with partners at the Patient Information Forum (PIF) to advocate that all organisations referred to by Diagnosis Connect meet recognised benchmarks to ensure the quality of care patients receive.
As members of the PIF, WMUK has achieved PIF TICK accreditation, certifying us as a trusted source of accurate and up-to-date information on Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia.
To maintain our accredited status, we regularly review and update all our content, submitting evidence to PIF for independent review. We see this as an integral part of what we do. It’s vital that WM patients, family, friends and healthcare professionals have a place where they can come for impartial and up to date information.
Inclusion of Cancer Patients
As yet, no timeline has been published for when cancer patients will be included in the Diagnosis Connect service.
But we believe connecting rare cancer patients with specialist organisations should be a priority. Patients with rare cancers, such as WM, are more likely to lack accredited, disease-specific information.
Diagnosis Connect forms part of the government’s wider 10-year Health Plan, which aims to transform healthcare by shifting:
- From hospital to community care
- From analogue to digital systems
- From sickness treatment to prevention
We look forward to the publication of the National Cancer Plan later this autumn, along with the NHS Workforce Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, which should provide more details on how the scheme will be implemented — and, specifically, how cancer services will be delivered in the future.
WMUK is here for you
We remain committed to supporting everyone affected by WM. Our website offers the most up-to-date information on current clinical trials for WM, along with a wide range of resources and support services.
For personal advice or a listening ear, contact our Support Line, Monday–Thursday, 9am–5pm, on 0300 373 8500.
