A PROJECT to help alleviate pain in people with long-term medical conditions begins in Stanley next month.
The Expert Patient programme, run by Derwentside Primary Care Trust, will offer six-week courses to help people cope with conditions including arthritis, asthma and back pain, plus heart conditions and multiple sclerosis. It can also help patients with mental health issues such as depression.
Pam Gwynn, Patient Advice and Liaison Service manager, said: "The Expert Patient Programme is a fantastic scheme, because it is all about people helping other people with the same illnesses and conditions and sharing their experiences and difficulties, to improve their health for themselves."
Research has shown that the programmes can help reduce severe symptoms, improve quality of life and increase patients' confidence. They can also help reduce the number of visits a patient has to make to see a doctor.
The sessions will be held in the Derwent Suite of the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, from Monday, September 1. For details, contact Ms Gwynn, at the trust, on (01207) 594458.
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