Expert patients in first GP practice roll out

Front row: Volunteer course tutor, Rachel Fitton, Practice Nurse, Valerie Mills, Practice Manager, Diane Cohoon, Patient, Beryl John. Back row: Volunteer course tutor, John Reed, Patient, Muriel White, Patient, Paul Ridgway and Patient, Kathleen Millington

A programme to support and enable patients in the borough to manage their long term conditions has successfully rolled out at a GP Practice for the first time.

Patients at Smallbridge Medical Practice were given the opportunity to take part on the six-week Expert Patient Programme (EPP) course, which is delivered by volunteers at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR), to help patients manage symptoms of their condition better and improve their quality of life.

Long term condition patient, Beryl John from Smallbridge, was one of four to successfully complete the course. She said: “It’s been really useful and interesting and I’ve learnt a lot. Not only has it helped me cope with my medication, but it’s also helped with my emotions and confidence. Meeting other people with long term conditions, also makes you realise that you’re not on your own. I think all patients should do this course.”

Smallbridge Medical Practice is the first practice in the borough to offer the course to patients. Celebrating their first year anniversary, Practice Manager, Diane Cohoon, said: “Having only been open 12 months, we’re really pleased to be the first practice to offer the course to our patients. It really helps to bring the community together and provides patients with the opportunity to look at alternative ways of managing their conditions while working closely with their practice nurse and GP.”

Julie Dawson, EPP Manager at NHS HMR, explained: “We don’t want patients to feel anxious of speaking to healthcare professionals about their health conditions and this course gives patients the confidence to work in partnership with their health and social care teams in having a say, as well as supporting them to manage the condition better on a daily basis. We encourage more GP practices across the borough to take up the programme.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about EPP, the referral process, pre-course education sessions, and course dates, including any GP Practices wishing to take up the programme, should contact Julie on 01706 510841 or email Julie.dawson@hmr.nhs.uk