Busy Start for Expert Patients Programme

Posted on 21st Jul

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A busy start to the new financial year (1st April) has resulted in three complete courses being delivered and two new courses commencing during this quarter. Jan White, the EPP Co-ordinator, said, “Expert patients are people living with a long-term health condition, who are able to take more control over their health by understanding and managing their conditions, leading to an improved quality of life”.

Participant’s echo Jan’s view on how the course helps, one who told us “I initially thought that this course wasn’t for me and had become passive about my symptoms. I now feel more empowered and have broken the cycle of “there is nothing to be done”. During the course I have stopped smoking and cut down on chocolate and have become calmer and healthier”.

Another recent participant agreed, “Action planning has helped me with my life, and I will continue to use it”.

Jan said “We are continuing this year where we left off last year ” As a result of sustained partnership working and awareness raising during the year, a total of 12 EPP courses were offered in Plymouth to meet referral demand. 147 people benefited from participation in the course.

Wycliffe Surgery at Cattedown hosted three in-house EPP courses, inviting patients from the chronic disease register, initially those who live with diabetes. The courses were highly successful and a good working relationship was built and sustained between EPP and the surgery. This targeted approach is one we will continue to work with this year.

There are now a team of eight volunteer Tutors, including the Co-ordinator, all of whom have first-hand experience of long term health conditions.

For more information on the EPP course please click here