OKEHAMPTON has been chosen as the first venue for a new course specially designed to allow people with chronic health conditions to develop skills to help cope better.
The Expert Patient Programme is an opportunity for people to come together with others and gain skills to help them cope with the difficulties of their long-term health problems.
Okehampton has been chosen as the venue for the first Expert Patient Course within the Mid Devon Primary Care Trust which hopes people whose lives are affected by chronic health conditions will register for the course by calling 0800 0730792.
The course starts on Tuesday, October 28, and comprises six weekly sessions of two and a half hours every Tuesday afternoon. It will be held at the Ockment Community Centre.
The training involved offers participants the opportunity to add to the skills they already use to deal with problems such as fatigue and isolation, to manage symptoms and to communicate with family friends and health professionals.
Carmel Fanconi, PALS co-ordinator for the Mid Devon Primary Care Trust, said: 'Research has shown that patients experience many benefits from attending the course, including better symptom control, fewer visits and shorter stays in hospital and an improved quality of life.'
Future opportunities to train as volunteer lay tutors to run these courses and help others will also be made available.