Expert Patient Programme

This is an excellent course designed to help people who have longterm conditions such as MS, diabetes, epilepsy, ME, cardio vascular problems, arthritis, etc etc.
The focus is not on the condition itself but common problems such as pain, fatique and frustration, fear of the future.
Topics covered are; better breathing, healthy eating, physical activity, problem solving, better communication and action plans.
Action plans are achievable goals to boost self confidence and esteem, but are subject to self management. An action lan might be to take a walk for twenty minutes three times a week in the morning, or it may be to make sure of a social event in the coming week. Success is achieving the stated goal, or adjusting it according to the symptoms that week. So three twenty minute walks may become one twenty minute walk and half an hours gardening, or doing something else that makes one feel achievement. If someone wishes to loseweight, their plan must be action specific ie, cutting out biscuits/​cake/​crisps etc. This is all about changing habits to improve your quality of life.
We’ve had people start the course barely able to lift their feet and at the end they climb a fkight of stairs. Or people who have dreaded leaving the house start going to a club. Not everyone improves so drasticly, but improve they do and it’s humbling because all we do is challenge their thinking and behaviour. Indirectly.
The course is paperless and spread over six weeks. for two and a half hour sessions. Mostly the participants ‘gel’ well and carry on meeting after the course is finished. We do see significant improvement in many of the participants.
This course is nationwide, and you can google a course near you, or phone the Primary Care Trust or ask at Healthpoints.
The course is free and comes with a very helpful book.
We do not recommend that people with schizophrenia come on the generic course (as described above) — there are the same course adapted for mental health, learning difficulties, visually impaired.