Supporting people to live well in South Staffordshire

Published by Helen Berwick for HCL Marketing Communications in Health and also in Communities

Residents living with long term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma are being encouraged to take control of their own health and well-being as part of Self Care Week, 9-15 November 2009.

Many people with chronic conditions already know how to look after themselves but some are still unaware of the support and information available to manage their conditions.

In the last 12 months, more than 100 south Staffordshire people with chronic conditions have accessed the Expert Patient Programme run by South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) Provider Services.

The self management programme is run throughout the year at a number of venues and patients are invited to attend the six week course for two and half hours for each session where they’ll be given advice and support from people with similar experiences of living with a long term condition.

Those who have previously attended the course have reported a reduction in pain, lower levels of depression and an improved quality of life.

Teresa Jones, of Heath Hayes, near Cannock, took part in a course two years ago and now runs some of the Expert Patient Programme sessions across South Staffordshire.

The 52-year-old said: “I had chronic fatigue and my doctor recommended the programme to me. It gave me a real focus and helped me to manage my condition better and move forward with my life. I think having a chronic condition can become very isolating and for me the course broke the isolation and made me realise there are people out there like me.”

Amanda Salt, PCT Provider Services Patient Engagement Manager, said: “In South Staffordshire PCT area we have had 114 people attend one of our Expert patient Programmes during the last year. The programme is a success because it is led by people who understand their disease and share the same experiences. It helps them develop confidence and improve self esteem.”

Self Care Week is a national awareness week which aims to raise awareness of the information and resources available to help provide people and especially those with long term conditions take control of their own health and well being and encourage them to take a more active role in decisions about their care.

Patients living in the Burton, Tamworth, Uttoxeter, Cannock and Lichfield areas should contact 01543 412929. Those living to the south west of the county should call 01543 465106.

For general information about living with a health condition or how to look after yourself better visit www.nhs.uk/yourhealth