When Linda King from East Sussex was diagnosed with a long term medical condition four years ago, she went on a free course to help her cope.
Run by NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald, she found the award winning Expert Patient Programme so useful she decided to become a trainer herself.
Linda says:
“When I was diagnosed with my illness everything changed; work was impossible, my social life and interests completely changed.
Through the Expert Patient Programme, known locally as the “Living Well” course, I was able to get through the bereavement of it.
I was shown, in a practical and supportive way, how I could rebuild and appreciate life again.”
The Living Well programme is run over six weekly sessions, and is led by fully trained volunteer tutors who are themselves living with long term conditions.
People with conditions such as depression or anxiety, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and HIV, already have a wealth of knowledge about living with and managing their own condition.
They can share their experiences and support fellow members of their group.
Topics covered include dealing with pain and fatigue, managing symptoms, advice on nutrition and exercise, and planning for the future to get the most out of life.
Each member is encouraged to focus on certain goals which are things they would really like to do, not just things they have to get done.
These goals can range from being able to swim again after losing a limb, to going on holiday, to going for a coffee in town.
Each aim is broken into smaller steps to be achieved on the way. Small steps still pose a massive challenge for people, but the group support each other through each of them.
The next course will run for six weeks at NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald headquarters, 36-38 Friars Walk, Lewes, from Wednesday 22nd April to Wednesday 27th May 2009.
Each session lasts two and a half hours.
Linda King hopes that more people will attend, and perhaps even go on to become trainers themselves.
More information about the Expert Patients Programme can be found at www.expertpatients.nhs.uk.
