SIXTY patients with long term illnesses have signed up to take part in the Expert Patient Programme which started this week at New Court Surgery in Malvern.

The programme is aimed at people with long-term health problems such as heart disease, respiratory problems, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and Parkinson’s. By participating in the programme the patients are taught how to manage their condition more effectively, build up their coping skills and hopefully improve the quality of their lives.

The courses last for six weeks and are provided free of charge to patients by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust. All the tutors are volunteers with long-term conditions themselves so are able to offer not just expert advice but can share their own first hand experience of coping with their own condition.

Robin Hancox, chairman of the Worcestershire and District branch of the Parkinson’s disease society and a volunteer tutor, said: “I’m not a negative person and have not allowed Parkinson’s to affect my life. The programme was vital in giving me the means to overcome my disease rather than feeling that I wanted to just curl up and do nothing.”

He said the programme could not offer people suffering from long-term conditions a cure but could provide useful guidance on managing and coping to help people enjoy a better quality of life.

Dr James Mather, of New Court Surgery, at Prospect View on Pickersleigh Road, said: “The evaluations from other courses throughout Worcestershire have been very positive and would suggest that they are a real benefit to help patients manage their conditions”

Three seperate Expert Programmes with 20 patients on each programme all started at the surgery this week.

Dr Mather said the interest that patients had shown in signing up for these first programmes had been overwhelming and the surgery hoped to run another course later in the summer.

For more information about these courses call Annette Jaep on 01527 507055.