Expert Patient Programme

The Expert Patient programme is a free programme which aims to:

• give you additional skills to self-manage your long-term health condition
• develop a better relationship with the healthcare professionals who support you
• improve your quality of life
• help you meet others, share experiences and communicate better with your family and friends
• make you feel confident and more in control of your condition

The programme is being run for anyone in Cornwall living with a long-term health condition. The course is delivered over 6 weeks for no more than 2.5 hours, led by trained volunteer tutors with lived experience.

Course sessions will cover:

• relaxation techniques
• dealing with difficult emotions
• exercise
• eating healthily
• coping with depression
• pain and fatigue management
• planning for the future

Course dates

• Course full: Wednesday 24 April until 29 May 2024, 11am to 1.30pm. Online.

Plaudits

“I feel in a much better place, my depression has lowered and I’m more communicative now. I’m more proactive, my outlook and emotions have improved. I feel more confident, more assertive, better equipped, and wiser. I have more self-awareness and a greater friendship circle. Life changing. In just 2 words: thank you.”

“The course has made a massive difference to me. I feel less isolated and have learned a huge number of skills to manage my condition. It also really helped with accepting the changes in my life, which has given me the energy to look ahead with optimism. I feel more hopeful and enabled. I literally knew nothing about my long-term health condition and now I know a lot more and, more importantly, I know where to find out whatever I need to know and learn how to be my own expert. And I have joined a WhatsApp group with the other participants from my course group, which is profoundly uplifting.”

“I’ve really appreciated meeting others who have the same symptoms as me, such as fatigue and brain fog. It’s the first time that I have been with people who truly understand. This alone has had a tremendous impact.”