'17 million reasons' is the result of consultation and research by the Partnership on Long-term Conditions, a group of 20 organisations including Asthma UK, other patient groups and healthcare professionals. It outlines a shared vision for people living with long-term medical conditions, and includes practical recommendations for changes to healthcare services that could transform the lives of up to a third of the UK population.

The report takes its title from the estimated 17 million people in the UK who are living with conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and epilepsy, including 5.1 million who have asthma.

Key recommendations in the manifesto include:

-- Giving people rapid access to expert diagnosis and ensuring that their needs are assessed effectively;

-- Putting patients in the driving seat with proper access to information and advice to help people make the right choices to maximise their quality of life;

-- Personalising services around each individual with a care plan to ensure people have the care they need when they need it.

The report calls on politicians from all parties to put people with long-term conditions at the heart of the health agenda.

'This has been a very effective partnership involving a broad range of healthcare professionals and organisations,' said Asthma UK's Senior Parliamentary Officer, Mikis Euripides. 'It has presented a clear vision for the 17 million Britons living with long-term conditions, and we hope to see this reflected when the political parties publish their manifestos.'