The Expert Patients Programme

Abstract

PurposeTo describe the purpose, establishment, work and achievements of the Expert Patients Programme (EPP) of the NHS Modernisation Agency's Clinical Governance Development Programme.Design/methodology/approachThe Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is one initiative of the Clinical Governance Support Team (CGST) which provides support for health professionals in implementation of the NHS Clinical Governance Programme arising out of the early work of the Patient Experience Team (PET). “Expert patients” are those with experience of self‐management of long‐term conditions and the programme centres on developing a model of peer support for patients with similar conditions. The EPP team has built on work at Stanford University in the USA where patients and their carers provide peer advice and support – an initiative termed “lay‐led self‐management”. The EPP team developed a six‐week course facilitated by trained lay people based on the Stanford “Chronic Disease Self Management Course” (CDSMC). This course was incorporated in a pilot study which ended in 2004 and in which the NHS collaborated with accredited voluntary organisations. A total of 98 per cent of Primary Care Centres in the UK took part. The methodology and benefits of the support programme are outlined.FindingsEvaluation by questionnaire confirms data from other countries on showing improvement in patients' conditions and a decrease in their use of health services. Access to the EPP programme is to be widened and will be available throughout the NHS by 2008.Originality/valueAn account of the formation, activities and outcomes to date of the EPP programme are provided.