Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company (EPP CIC) Launches Online Patient Community at 10 Year Anniversary Event
LONDON, November 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
EPP CIC is marking the 10 Year Anniversary of the Expert Patients Programme (EPP) with an event in London on 15 November, where it will launch a new social media resource for patients with long-term health conditions.
Taking place during Self Care Week, the celebration at 15 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ, will feature contributions from across the self-management community by policy makers, patients, commissioners and voluntary sector organisations, including:
- Stephen Johnson, Deputy Director, Head of Long Term Conditions, Department of Health
- Sir Liam Donaldson, former Chief Medical Officer
- Stephen Jacobs OBE, Chair, EPP CIC
- Dr John Chisholm CBE
- Renata Drinkwater, Chief Executive, EPP CIC
- Martin Patrick, Senior Consultant, Barnardos
- Paralympian Gold Medallist Archer Danielle Brown (who lives with a long-term condition)
Ten years on from its introduction into the NHS, self-management remains a core element of the Department of Health policy framework, with EPP CIC being the leading provider of self-management programmes. It has exceeded its original objective of supporting the delivery of 100,000 EPP course places by 2012 and played a key role in raising the profile of self-management as a recognised public health measure.
EPP CIC Chief Executive Renata Drinkwater comments: "In addition to celebrating the contribution of the incredible people and organisations who have been part of the self-management movement over the last 10 years, this event looks forward to the future of self-management with the launch of an online Expert Patient Community which we hope will offer information and inspiration to the 15.4 million people living with long-term conditions. Encouraging others to self-manage is important as the 30% of people who live with long-term conditions account for 69% of health service usage, and research shows that people who self-manage can reduce visits to GPs and emergency admissions."
The community pages at http://www.expertpatients.co.uk/community and http://www.facebook.com/EPPCIC provide ongoing support for course participants and the opportunity for people to share stories and experiences of self-management. In addition, regular bloggers share their day-to-day challenges and triumphs to give a valuable insight into the reality of living with a long-term condition. On average, a person living with a long-term health condition will spend just 3 hours a year with their healthcare team; the rest of the time, they are managing their condition by themselves.
Contact: Sarah James, Sarah.james@eppcic.co.uk
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