In 2012, there were over 15 million people who were living with a long-term condition; by 2025, there will be 18 million people, is this really news? Working in partnership with your health care team, is this news?
The answer is NO!
The news is that at self management uk we have courses for all who want to work in partnership. We are sharing the views of people who self-manage their conditions effectively with healthcare professionals & trainees/students at universities as part of their studies in 3-hour modules. Seeing the patient they treat as a whole person; emotionally, socially and medically. They are often challenged on where they think a patient should go or what they should do. They find out the patient must be treated as a person. They have choices, options, needs, social pressure, fears, work and much more. Yes stress comes into it too. If you have a cold for 2 weeks, it affects your life! Try living with a long-term condition where in reality it never goes away! Would you feel stressed? It’s not what you planned in your life and no one has given you an instruction manual; it’s scary! You really are on your own with this monster of a condition, what a nightmare!
So, why not empower that patient with the skills that will support them for the rest of their life. The reality is, an average patient sees a Healthcare Professional for 3 hours a year and the rest of the time they are on their own. No wonder some turn up in A&E - it can be frightening! We should ensure training of students and then they will emphasise with their own patients when they practice in the future.
Can they give their patients 18 hours of focused training? Skills to access what they need; problem solve; communication skills; manage their medication; plan for changes; partnership working with their Healthcare Professional; learn how to get the best from their appointments; manage setbacks; feel in control; relax; practice positive thinking and more social interaction with the community? The list goes on and in reality so does their life…
A patient who has all these skills is more empowered, confident and works more effectively with Healthcare Professionals. At self management uk, we specialise in this. Our courses are typically 6 weeks, 3 hours per week and held in the local community.
Clinical Commissioning Groups can be proactive and fund these courses so that they are available now! Investment now will bring down the costs of future care for patients with long-term health conditions.
This would lead to Healthcare Professionals managing patients in a very cost effective way. Patients are no longer as they used to say “under the doctor”. The condition has not gone, but they share the responsibility for their care. One of the biggest challenges in life is living with a long-term health condition. Self-management enables them to enjoy it in their own way, as an individual with awareness of choice.
I know from being a patient, what it is like to sit there and tell my GP the same thing every month. I went on a course and I now see my GP every 6 months for medication reviews and make an appointment if I have a change in my symptoms. I work full-time, have a good life and manage my condition effectively using the skills I learnt. I am not the only one, have a look on our website www.selfmanagementuk.org at our volunteers who have a long-term condition and facilitate self-management courses with passion as it has changed their lives.
Linda Cairns, Contract Manager, self management uk
