Encouraging Self-Care Through Charity

The editorial emphasizes the importance of self-management in healthcare, particularly for patients with long-term conditions who spend less than 1% of their time with health professionals. It highlights the role of voluntary and charitable organizations in supporting self-care and providing resources for both patients and health professionals. Examples include the Wound Care Alliance UK for wound management education, the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation for community-based leg ulcer management, Woundcare4Heroes for complex wound management for veterans, and DEBRA for support with epidermolysis bullosa. The Tissue Viability Society and a coalition of organizations are working on the Legs Matter Campaign to improve care for lower limb and foot conditions. The article encourages health professionals to integrate self-management into patient care and to engage with charities that can support their work and patient needs.