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