Modern Healthcare Can Achieve Incredible Things
Modern healthcare can achieve extraordinary things. Yet many people living with complex or unexplained symptoms struggle to find recognition, answers, or appropriate care.
While charities exist for many specific conditions, those who are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or living with symptoms that do not fit clear categories often fall through the gaps.
Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases exists to change that.
Why Our Work Matters
For many patients living with persistent symptoms, the healthcare journey can look like this:
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Millions of people live with persistent symptoms that remain undiagnosed or poorly understood.
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Many move repeatedly between healthcare services, undergoing multiple tests, referrals, and appointments without clear answers.
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Patients often experience fragmented care and a lack of coordinated support.
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As a result, many individuals feel dismissed, isolated, or uncertain about where to turn for help.
Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases aims to address this gap by:
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Bringing together clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience.
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Improving recognition and understanding of persistent and medically unexplained symptoms.
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Supporting patients whose conditions fall outside traditional diagnostic pathways.
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Promoting better communication, research, and patient-centred care.
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Who We Are
We are an international, multidisciplinary community including:
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Healthcare professionals
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Scientists and researchers
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Public health experts
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Campaigners, communicators, and policy advocates
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People with lived experiences
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Ethicists, chaplains, and spiritual carers
We are united by one aim: to advocate for those overlooked in healthcare.
Our Purpose
We seek to improve health and wellbeing by:
Supporting Overlooked Conditions
Developing Practical Resources
Signposting Support Services
Conducting & Supporting Research
Promoting Education & Awareness
Advocating for Policy Change
Guiding Principles
Our approach is holistic and evidence-informed. By examining selected conditions in depth, we aim to generate insights that can improve care more broadly across healthcare systems.
Through this work we seek to:
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Drive change where it’s most needed
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Collaborate with existing efforts, rather than duplicate them
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Empower patients and amplify lived experiences
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Address barriers to access, diagnosis and care
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Educate clinicians about interconnected symptoms
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Promote inclusion and challenge discrimination in healthcare
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Encourage multidisciplinary thinking and collaboration