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PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be technical. However, some people find that they add depth to the articles found in the other sections of this website which are written for non-medical people.

Expert Patients

Expert patients are people living with a long-term health condition, who are able to take more control over their health by understanding and managing their conditions, leading to an improved quality of life. Becoming an expert patient is empowering for people with chronic conditions.

According to research, people who have trained in self-management tend to be more confident and less anxious.1 They make fewer visits to the doctor, can communicate better with health professionals, take less time off work, and are less likely to suffer acute episodes requiring admission to hospital.2

The concept of the expert patient has been considered for specific chronic conditions for many years but has only recently taken on a high profile within the NHS as a whole. The NHS recently launched The Expert Patient Programme, which is designed to help patients with long-term conditions to take control of their lives.
The aim is that expert patients should:

  • Feel confident and in control of their lives.
  • Aim to manage their condition and its treatment in partnership with health care professionals.
  • Communicate effectively with professionals and be willing to share responsibility on treatment.
  • Be realistic about the impact of their disease on themselves and their family, and
  • Use their skills and knowledge to lead full lives.

The Expert Patient Programme works in partnership with the Long-term Medical Care Alliance, a voluntary organisation that works to improve the lives of people with long-term health conditions.

Since the pilot phase of The Expert Patient Programme was launched in 2002, over 10,000 people have attended training. New initiatives in 2004 include a course for parents of children with chronic conditions. Expert patient courses run for two and a half hours per week for six weeks. They are delivered by people who live with a long-term condition, or by people who have direct experience of living with someone who has a long-term condition.
In these programmes, people learn a variety of relevant skills, which include:

  • Setting goals.
  • Writing an action plan.
  • Problem solving skills.
  • Fitness and exercise.
  • Better breathing (participants are taught diaphragmatic breathing).
  • Fatigue management.
  • Healthy eating.
  • Relaxation skills.
  • Communication with family.
  • Working better with health care professionals, including communicating better with them.
  • Making better use of medications.

Factors improving the success of local Expert Patients Programme courses include more time for the EPP Lead to dedicate to the Programme and collaboration across PCTs to share co-ordinators, tutors, and funding.3

Information on local courses and how to become involved, either to become an Expert Patient or become a course tutor, are available on the Expert Patients Programme website (link below). There is also an online Expert Patient Programme course.


Document References
  1. Lorig KR, Ritter P, Stewart AL, et al; Chronic disease self-management program: 2-year health status and health care utilization outcomes.; Med Care. 2001 Nov;39(11):1217-23. [abstract]
  2. Lorig KR, Sobel DS, Stewart AL, et al; Evidence suggesting that a chronic disease self-management program can improve health status while reducing hospitalization: a randomized trial.; Med Care. 1999 Jan;37(1):5-14. [abstract]
  3. Lee V, Kennedy A, Rogers A; Implementing and managing self-management skills training within primary care organisations: a national survey of the expert patients programme within its pilot phase.; Implement Sci. 2006 Feb 23;1:6. [abstract]

Internet and Further Reading Acknowledgements EMIS is grateful to Dr Colin Tidy for writing this article. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2007.
DocID: 1452
Document Version: 21
DocRef: bgp24857
Last Updated: 21 Aug 2006
Review Date: 20 Aug 2008
















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PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

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