Expert Patients Programme

A free six week course for anyone living with any long-term health condition(s). The programme aims to provide support and develop self confidence to help you feel more in control.

Expert Patients Programme is a free six week course for anyone living with any long-term health condition(s). The programme aims to provide support and develop self confidence to help you feel more in control.

The course looks at:

• Dealing with pain and extreme tiredness
• Coping with feelings of depression
• Relaxation techniques and exercise
• Healthy eating
• Communicating with family, friends and professionals
• Planning for the future

Practicalities

The Expert Patients Programme is run over six weekly sessions with each session lasting two-and-a-half hours. It is facilitated by trained tutors who are themselves living with a long-term condition. The course also has a number of accredited bilingual tutors, who deliver the courses in community languages in a culturally appropriate manner.

Who can take part?

Anyone living with one or more long-term health condition(s).

How can it help you?

By taking part in an Expert Patients Programme, you will:

• Learn new skills to manage your health condition
• Develop confidence in the daily management of your specific condition(s)
• Meet others who share similar experiences
• Learn about developing more effective relationships with healthcare professionals

How has it helped others?

People who have taken part in a Expert Patients Programme have reported that it has helped them to:

• Feel confident and more in control of their life
• Manage their condition and treatment together with healthcare professionals
• Be realistic about the impact of the condition on themselves and their family
• Use their new skills and knowledge to improve their quality of life

What course participants say

Georgie - Newcastle

"My life has been transformed over the last two years and I can say with absolute certainty that I owe it all to the Expert Patients Programme."

Georgie Foord has had fibromyalgia since 1997 and was coping well with her exercise regime and careful diet. Attending an EPP course in 2003 helped her to achieve her goal of publishing her own work.

Do you remember that long hot summer of 2003? I was newly retired, bored and restless, drifting aimlessly through the weeks.

More on Georgie's story