New course for long-term sick

9:14am Monday 21st July 2008

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ADULTS in the Pershore area living with a long-term illness are to be offered a free six-week course aimed at improving their quality of life.

The Expert Patient Programme aims to help them manage their condition, build on their own individual coping skills and improve the quality of their lives.

It is aimed at people with a long-term illness such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, MS, arthritis, ME or Parkinson's.

Worcestershire Primary Care Trust is putting on the free course, which consists of one 2.5hr session one day a week for six weeks.

The course is run by volunteers who themselves have a long-term condition.

Robin Hancox, chairman of the Worcestershire and District branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society and a colunteer tutor on the Expert Patient programme, said: "I am not a negative person and have not allowed Parkinson's to affect my life.

"The EPP was vital in giving me the means to overcome my disease rather than feeling that I wanted to just curl up and do nothing.

"EPP courses do not offer a cure, but can provide guidance on managing and coping with long-term illness for a better quality of life."

For more information or to book a place on the course, contact Annette Jaep on 01527 507055. The Pershore course is due to begin in October.