EXPERT PATIENT PROGRAMME
LIVING WITH A LONG TERM CONDITION?

Expert Patient Programme - Helping you to help yourself

• Learn Pain Management
• Master Relaxation
• Increase Exercise
• Deal with Fatigue
• Manage Medication
• Coping with Low Mood
• Improve Quality of Life

What is the Expert Patient Programme?

It is a free self management course run over six weekly sessions of two and a half hours. It is a self referral programme designed for people with long term conditions and aims to enable them to play a more active part in managing their own condition. People have considerable knowledge and experience of their own condition and proper training can enable them to turn this into practical skills that can make a big difference to the quality of their lives. What is special about the course is that the tutors themselves have a long term health condition.

What topics are covered on the course?

The courses are designed to run alongside medical treatment and include information on how to:

• Reduce and manage stress
• Understand more about using medication correctly to manage your condition
• Get more out of health services by using them effectively
• Manage the distress and depression that can come with a long term condition
• Recognise and act on symptoms
• Take adequate physical exercise
• Communicate effectively with family, friends and health professionals
• Develop healthy eating patterns and improve general health
• Making treatment decisions that are right for you
• Planning and setting goals.

Will the Expert Patient Programme fit in with my medical care?

The programme has been developed to work alongside current medical healthcare, but not to replace it. It will not conflict with existing programmes or treatment. The information given is not disease specific, but addresses concerns and difficulties common to people with an on going health problems. Participants learn how to manage the different negative effects of living with an on going problem, as well as how to keep active.

Where, when and how long?

Courses run for six weeks, one two and a half hour session per week. There is a rolling programme of courses presently at Dorchester, Bridport, Uploders, Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Portland.

What will it cost?

Nothing except a commitment to attend regularly.

How do I get a place on the course?

Anyone with a long term health condition can self refer. We will ask you for your contact details and information on any special needs that you might have. Sometimes there is a waiting list and your application will be held for the next programme.

• Telephone: 01305 368052
• Download, print, complete and return an application form, (click here).
• or e mail: expertpatient@southwestdorset-pct.nhs.uk

Our 2006 Programme Dates

It is hoped to run courses in the following locations during 2006, these dates are subject to confirmation.