THE Relate counselling service for Swindon is calling for relationships to be put at the heart of the NHS so that more people in the town living with long-term health conditions can access support.

A report by the charity released this week claimed a link between relationships and health is too often ignored in the NHS, and new polling suggests the effects of living with health conditions are putting pressure on people’s relationships.

The YouGov poll found that around one-in-four people with a life-limiting health problem or who are disabled said their condition has impacted negatively on relationships they have or have had with partners (24 per cent), friends (25 per cent), family (23 per cent) or colleagues (33 per cent).

Despite clear evidence that good quality relationships can prevent, delay or minimise the effects of health conditions, only half (51 per cent) of those with a life-limiting health problem or who are disabled and have received professional support said it has taken their relationships into account effectively.

A further 21 per cent said they feel the support they received hasn’t considered their relationships at all.

Relate Gloucestershire and Swindon is backing the launch of Relate’s national campaign called The Best Medicine, which aims to show that relationships are critical to our health and wellbeing and calls on local health policy makers.

Ellaine Cameron, Relate Gloucestershire and Swindon centre manager, said: “It can be a long road when you’re living with physical or mental health condition, and couple, family and social relationships are a vital part of making the journey better.

"Yet when we need our relationships most, the effects of having a health condition can pile on the pressure.

"We want excellent relationship support to be made more accessible at the point of diagnosis and beyond."

For more details on the campaign, log on to www.relate.org.uk.