PATIENT champions could soon deliver just the tonic people with long-term health problems need.

In a ground-breaking North Yorkshire scheme, organised by the National Health Service, people with health problems are being offered assistance in coping - from others who have faced the same situation. The help will come by offering long-term illness sufferers a six-session self-help course based in Ripon and organised by the Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The Expert Patients' Programme will not only encourage people to take control of long-term illnesses like arthritis, asthma, back problems, heart disease, MS and diabetes, but help improve their quality of life.

The courses are open to patients living in the area covered by the PCT.

The next venue will be in Ripon on Thursday, September 15, and others will be held in a variety of locations.

There will be six weekly sessions, each lasting two-and-a-half hours.

Liz Woodthorpe, who lives in Harrogate, said she was so impressed by the programme that she trained to become one of four volunteer tutors.

"Living with a long-term condition can make you feel very isolated," she said.

"Opportunities like this - to explore methods of managing long-term health conditions - don't come along very often.

"I would encourage anyone in such a situation to consider attending the programme - it could help to change your life."

A PCT spokesman said the course had been designed to help people with long-term health conditions to regain as much control over their physical and mental wellbeing as possible.

Anyone interested in the Ripon course or registering for a future one have been asked to contact organisers on 0845 601 8412