Community

Local groups & charities Up & coming events Useful contacts Useful information Local issues Your letters Community offers

NHS Expert Patient Programme

LIVING WITH A LONG-TERM CONDITION
Course Outline for people attending the programme

What is the Expert Patient Programme ? (EPP)

The Expert Patient Programme is a six week course for people, over the age of 18, who are living with a long-term health condition(s), re-occurring illness or are a carer for someone living with a long-term health condition whose health is affected by their caring situation.

The course aims to support, empower and enable you, giving you the confidence to take more responsibility and self-manage your health better on a daily basis, while encouraging you to work collaboratively with health and social care professionals.

The programme builds on the principal that people like us with long-term health problems know best how our condition affects the way we feel, on a day to day basis; hence the ‘Expert’. How it affects our lifestyle and our ability to accomplish activities that are important to us. The course does not focus on the condition itself but looks at ways to positively manage symptoms brought about by our long-term health problems ie stress, anxiety, depression, pain, shortness of breath, tense muscles, difficult emotions (fear, anger, frustration) and confidence, to improve on daily activities and manage the changing emotions that can be brought about by our health condition. It is also about working in collaboration with health care professionals; the importance of informing them of changes in our condition, understanding that ‘You’, the ‘Patient’, has a responsibility in managing your condition by becoming an active, not passive, self-manager.

The Course – what it involves

The course is free and consists of 6 weekly sessions – each lasting 2½ hours. The course is prescriptive (delivered as directed by the training manual) and lay-led by 2 tutors, who themselves have long-term health problems and/or have experience of supporting someone who has. The tutors have previously attended an Expert Patient Programme as a participant prior to becoming a tutor. This means they understand the challenges you face in having health problems coming on the course. Many deliver programmes in a voluntary capacity, in their own time.

Weekly sessions provide information on specific topics such as managing symptoms, relaxation techniques, why and how to communicate effectively with health care professionals, the importance of healthy eating and physical activity - although we don’t put on lycra and do a work out - we do talk about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating and how this can help reduce symptoms. Sensible Action Planning supported by Problem Solving techniques play a major role on the programme. Time is given for participants to share experiences and learn from each other, and to develop ways of overcoming specific difficulties.

Each course accommodates up to 16 people. Although people are attending a structured programme, the atmosphere is informal which enables you to relax and get to know each other. The programme is delivered locally within the 3 townships, including the Pennines. All venues are checked and risk assessed to ensure they are safe and accessible for everyone to use.

Benefits

Courses now take place all over England with very positive feedback from participants. People have commented that the course has improved their outlook on life, helped them to become more active and able to take control over their lives - people have become better at self-managing their condition. Many have reported reduced visits to their GP as they have the confidence and ability to manage minor symptoms of their condition at home just by making a few simple changes. The table below demonstrates feedback collected locally from people who have completed the 6 week course with the last 6 months:

Expectations

What people said they wanted to achieve by attending the programme

More understanding of my condition
To help me cope with my lack of confidence
Discover alternative coping strategies for managing symptoms
Information about helping myself in general
How to live life more healthily
How to improve my diet
Fitness
Meet people and gain confidence
Meet other people coping with long-term illness
Have better control over my pain
To be able to deal with anxiety attacks and changing thoughts
To learn and be able to stop having anti-depressants
Help and methods to cope
Help with anger and fatigue
Assistance with sleeping and relaxation
Greater understanding of long-term illness
Help with dealing with depression
Relaxation techniques
Support and removal of isolated feelings
Talking to my GP and making them understand why I feel the way I do

Outcomes

What people said they had achieved by completing the 6 week programme

Help is what I came for and help is what I got
Relaxation technique, guided imagery and breathing techniques all help
Setting achievable goals (action plans) and presenting feedback on achievements
Problem solving effectively with people who understand my challenges
The knowledge of knowing I am not on my own
Acceptance and understanding of condition
Knowing the difference, role and responsibilities, of me and my GP of living with a long-term condition as opposed to living with an acute condition
Reviewing diet; not skipping meals has helped me manage fatigue
Positive thinking
Able to set targets that are realistic to me
Increased confidence
How to deal with people and situations
Better equipped in dealing with my health care professionals, knowing what they need from me and going armed with the right questions – prepared!
This course has given me Hope

An additional bonus for many people attending the programme is the support and friendship that is gained from meeting other course members who all share a common theme. Many go on to meet up on a regular basis and have even formed their own support groups.

What does the Programme not do?

The programme does not give specific information on health conditions nor does it interfere with any medical/clinical interventions or advice given by your health professionals. The programme compliments any medical treatment and/or advice people are currently receiving.

Additional Pre-course and reunion sessions around the courses can be found in Events.
To view the EPP leaflet click here.
To see the self-referral form click here. This can be printed off and posted to the address on the form.
For more info on the NHS website click here http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/expert-patients-programme-

To reserve a place or if you have any further questions prior to the course commencing then please contact:

Paula Vickers
Expert Patient Programme Administrator
Telephone: (01706) 510840

Privacy

Terms and Conditions

Copyright