Patients in Suffolk are being invited to sign-up now for a free course that will help them better manage their long-term health conditions.

The Chronic Disease Self-Management courses are taking place in locations across the county and are aimed at people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Sessions will be for two-and-a-half hours, for six weeks, beginning in February 2012.

Courses are taking place at:

Bury St Edmunds - 1 February to 7 March, every Wednesday

Woodbridge - 6 February to 12 March, every Monday

Felixstowe – 9 February to 15 March, every Thursday

Haverhill – 9 February to 15 March, every Thursday

Newmarket – 10 February to 16 March, every Friday

Sudbury – 15 February to 21 March, every Wednesday

Mildenhall – 21 February to 27 March, every Tuesday

Olive Quinton, NHS Suffolk’s health improvement facilitator said: “The courses are designed to help people live their lives as well as possible, even though they have a long-term health condition.

“Each course is delivered by a trained tutor; people who themselves have a long term condition. The course will help participants reduce feelings of isolation and depression, encourage living a healthier lifestyle, improve relationships with family, friends and medical staff and feel more in control.   By better managing their condition, patients will be able to improve their quality of life.

“People who have taken part in previous programmes report that they do not need to visit their GP and be admitted to hospital as often because they feel that they are in control of their condition rather than it being in control of them.

“Anyone interested in joining a course should call 0800 988 5550 where they can talk to an advisor and find out if the course could help them.”

NHS Suffolk has commissioned the Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company to deliver the course.