This is an opportunity for people with chronic health conditions to come together with others and develop more skills to help them cope with the difficulties of long-term health problems.
It is a course comprising 6 sessions of 2½ hours on consecutive weeks. Each week, participants are introduced to cognitive skills - that is - ways to build upon how conditions are dealt with daily.
All of us self-manage. This training course offers participants the opportunity to add to the skills they already use to:
Deal with problems like fatigue, pain, isolation, fear and frustration
Manage symptoms
Take appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance
Eat healthily
Communicate effectively with family, friends and health care professionals
Evaluate new health information
Like any skill, self-management needs to be learned and practised. This course aims to develop healthy lifestyle habits. These will complement any current or imminent medical or surgical treatment. The goal is that people will achieve the greatest possible physical capability and pleasure from life, despite living with a chronic health problem.
The Expert Patient Programme is not run at or by the surgery. It is organised and funded by Devon Primary Care Trust. It is free.
For further information please contact:
01271 341550
or visit the national EPP web site by clicking here