My condition is still with me, I still have bad days but I have learned to cope – I have learned to set my sights differently so that I can achieve by action planning and being able to do things in small steps, I am able to lead a positive and fulfilling life and be a good self-manager – in fact I am an Expert Patient!

Mercy Banda, Community Empowerment Worker, Rain Trust

How can it help you?

By attending the full six-week EPP course, you will:

Learn new skills to manage your health condition

Develop confidence in the daily management of your specific condition(s)

Meet others who share similar experiences

How has it helped others?

As everyone is different, people gain different benefits from attending the EPP programme, however common themes have been reported:

Feeling more confident and in more control of their life’s

Being more realistic about the impact of the condition on themselves and their family

Proactively using their new skills and knowledge to improve their quality of life

For further information on becoming involved with the free and confidential EPP course please contact:
Mercy Banda, Community Empowerment Worker
on 020 8964 2727 or Email Mercy

Expert Patient Programme (EPP)

Professor Kate Lorig developed the concept of EPP through her work with people with arthritis. She discovered that patients, through their own experiences have developed vast resources of problem solving and coping skills to deal with their own conditions. Subsequently with the right guidance and support the patient can use this knowledge and take the lead in managing their own specific illness

The EPP concept has now been proven to help patients with different long term illnesses other than arthritis, Including:

Diabetes

HIV/Aids

Depression

Asthma

Heart Disease

Rain Trust EPP courses in conjunction with Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Care Trust.

The free six weeks course run by Rain Trust is a confidential course that has been specially developed to help people with long-term conditions. The course is delivered by the local Hammersmith & Fulham Trainers who themselves have had first hand experience of living with long-term health issues.

The programme aims to provide support and develop self-confidence to help you feel more in control.

Covering such areas as:

Dealing with pain and extreme tiredness

Coping with feelings of depression

Relaxation techniques and exercise

Healthy eating

Planning for the future

Course details

The six-week EPP courses take place at Rain Trust (Link to map) in the evenings, with each session lasting two and a half hours.

It is open to anyone with one or more long term health condition(s).

The course has a number of accredited bilingual tutors, who deliver the courses in community languages in a culturally appropriate manner.

People around me all noticed how I was more upbeat and happy after doing the EPP course. I feel I have my life back. I’m now working five days a week, something I thought would never happen. I can get through the day and I don’t feel half bad. That’s real progress.

Mohammed B, a past attendee of Rain Trust EPP Course