Edith Parsons

Local resident goes from 30 cigarettes a day to 3……thanks  to community based free self-management  course

A heavy smoker living with asthma, osteoarthritis and angina has cut down from 30 cigarettes - to just three - thanks to a free, local course run by The Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company(EPP CIC).

Edith Parsons, aged 68, has lived in Sutton for 30 years but her health has deteriorated recently due to the long-term health conditions she is living with.

After visiting her local GP and complaining of severe breathlessness, Edith’s GP recommended a free self management course which helps people of all ages cope with long term illnesses using a range of cognitive behavioral techniques and healthy lifestyle suggestions.

The course was run by EPP CIC  for two hours a week over a six week period and was based at the local community centre in Sutton. Edith was delighted to find the tutors who ran the course were living with long term health conditions themselves and knew exactly what is was like to feel breathless every day, have periods of low mood and self esteem and to feel sick of feeling sick on a daily basis.  As well as this Edith also got to meet other local residents on the course who also shared similar health conditions and experiences.

The course helped Edith get to grips with issues including healthy eating, relaxation methods and through goal setting projects and as a result she has gone from smoking 30 cigarettes a day to just three - which has helped reduce her constant breathlessness. 

Edith- a smoker since her early 20’s never expected she would be able to reduce her cigarette intake. 

She said: “It has made me feel so much healthier and not mention saved me some pennies. Especially with the fuel bills so high at the moment”

Like many people, Edith’s age, it is tricky to find out what community based health support is  available as a lot of elderly residents are not mobile and therefore do not get to find out unless information is posted or spoken about via health care professionals.

Edith completed the EPP CIC course 2 weeks ago and is now recommending it to anyone who has a long term health condition. 

She said: “It has completely changed my life for the better, thank goodness my GP mentioned it to me. 

“Every GP surgery should be recommending EPP CIC courses in Sutton and Merton.”