Showcase - Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland

'Living A Healthy Life' self-management programme – making life better for people with long term conditions

The ‘Living a Healthy Life’ self-management programme started in 2001, but its roots go back to the 1970s when the Long Term Conditions Management Course was developed in the USA to provide a patient education programme for people with arthritis. The programme was introduced to the UK by Arthritis Care in the 1990s and a partnership was then established between the MS Society Scotland and Arthritis Care Scotland in 2001.

It is different from most health support services in that it is run by volunteers who themselves have long term conditions, rather than by health professionals. The programme helps people with long-term conditions to manage them more effectively.  The free courses, which always have a maximum of 18 participants and which are open to anyone with a long term condition, are run by Volunteer Course Leaders, lay people who are specially trained to run the course. The courses are held locally and run for six weeks with weekly sessions of 2.5 hours.

Those attending learn a wide variety of techniques and methods for building their self confidence to control their symptoms and the impact on their lives and families. Participants learn to work in partnership with their health care professionals, communicating effectively their needs, so sharing responsibility for treatment. They learn new skills, which include how to manage the symptoms such as pain, fatigue and difficult emotions. These are done through exploring issues including exercise, relaxation, diet, communications techniques, planning and problem solving.

But what difference does the course really make to the lives of those who have been on it? The following comments are from people who have completed the course over the last couple of years:

‘I think this course has been a real eye opener.  Also, good way of meeting others in same situation, making your realise you’re not alone.’ - Participant from Lerwick

‘I have enjoyed meeting other people who are in similar situations and also others who are more affected than myself but who are still very positive.  It has also removed some of my fears about the future.’ - Participant from Glenrothes

‘It has been useful talking to people who REALLY understand.’ - Participant from Selkirk

The course has evaluated overwhelmingly positively, with almost every participant stating it has fulfilled their expectations either completely or reasonably well. The number of Volunteer Course Leaders is also increasing all the time to help fill previous gaps.

The programme is undoubtedly a big success, with several hundred people across Scotland having now completed it and the number of geographical areas covered increasing all the time, making it available to more and more people with long term conditions. Both the MS Society Scotland and Arthritis Care Scotland are confident that it will go from strength to strength and continue to be a key service for people seeking to improve how they self-manage long term conditions.

To find out more about the courses and where they are running or about training as a Course Leader, either call Ailsa Blair on 0131 335 4055 or visit www.mssocietyscotland.org.uk/life_with_ms/learning_more/self_management.html or Alex Frame on 0141 954 7776 Arthritis Care Scotland or visit http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/InyourArea/Scotland/Training