Health charities are outlining proposals to improve the treatment of 17 million sufferers of long term chronic illness. 

A collaboration of 20 health bodies are asking for a commitment to improve the lives of those with long-term illnesses like asthma and cancer. 

The report says that patients should have rapid access to expert diagnosis and an assessment of their different needs. 

The groups also want more patient advice and personalised services for each individual.

David Pink, chief executive of the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance, said: "We have already seen waiting lists for operations successfully reduced to below one million, but there are over 17 million people in the UK currently living with long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, arthritis, MS or cancer.

Pink added: "The priority for all three political parties must now be to improve the lives of one third of the population.

"We need a health debate that talks less about emergency care and more about what millions of people are living with day in, day out."

The group, whose members include the NHS Confederation, Diabetes UK and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, wants all the political parties to include their proposals in their general election manifestos.