ELAINE DENNY is Professor of Health Sociology and Head of Health Policy and Public Health Division at Birmingham City University, UK. She has a background in hospital and community nursing and taught health sociology to students on health related courses for 20 years. Elaine has co-authored with Sarah Earle a health sociology text Sociology for Nurses. SARAH EARLE is Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at the Open University. She has taught sociology as applied to health and healthcare for over 15 years and has published widely in this field. Sarah has co-authored with Elaine Denny a health sociology text Sociology for Nurses.

• Introduction: E.Denny and S.EarlePART I: THEORY, POLICY AND RESEARCHChronic Illness, Disability and the Politics of Health; E. Denny and S.EarleLong Term Conditions, Policy and Practice; A.Hewison and D.CoxResearching People with Long-term conditions G.LetherbyPART II: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE'It takes your breath away': The Social Setting of COPD; T.HellerCoronary Heart Disease: Moving from Acute to Long Term Accounts; L.LockyerPolicy and Practice for Diabetes Care; C.Lloyd and C.Skinner'Getting to know myself': Changing Needs and Gaining Knowledge among People with Cancer; J.TritterHIV/AIDS: A Highly Stigmatized Long Term Condition; E.RichardsonWitness and Duty: Answering the Call to Speak for Dementia Sufferers in Advanced Illness; P.SavySocial Perspectives on Depression; A.Mitchell, E.Denny and S.EarleObesity: A Long Term Condition?; S.EarleHeartsink Patients and Intractable Conditions; E.DennyConcluding Reflections; E.Denny and S.Earle.

ELAINE DENNY is Professor of Health Sociology and Head of Health Policy and Public Health Division at Birmingham City University, UK. She has a background in hospital and community nursing and taught health sociology to students on health related courses for 20 years. Elaine has co-authored with Sarah Earle a health sociology text Sociology for Nurses. SARAH EARLE is Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at the Open University. She has taught sociology as applied to health and healthcare for over 15 years and has published widely in this field. Sarah has co-authored with Elaine Denny a health sociology text Sociology for Nurses.

• Introduction: E.Denny and S.EarlePART I: THEORY, POLICY AND RESEARCHChronic Illness, Disability and the Politics of Health; E. Denny and S.EarleLong Term Conditions, Policy and Practice; A.Hewison and D.CoxResearching People with Long-term conditions G.LetherbyPART II: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE'It takes your breath away': The Social Setting of COPD; T.HellerCoronary Heart Disease: Moving from Acute to Long Term Accounts; L.LockyerPolicy and Practice for Diabetes Care; C.Lloyd and C.Skinner'Getting to know myself': Changing Needs and Gaining Knowledge among People with Cancer; J.TritterHIV/AIDS: A Highly Stigmatized Long Term Condition; E.RichardsonWitness and Duty: Answering the Call to Speak for Dementia Sufferers in Advanced Illness; P.SavySocial Perspectives on Depression; A.Mitchell, E.Denny and S.EarleObesity: A Long Term Condition?; S.EarleHeartsink Patients and Intractable Conditions; E.DennyConcluding Reflections; E.Denny and S.Earle.