This week prisoners at all-female prison, HMP Send in Woking, will be the first ever female prisoners in England to have access to the NHS-run Expert Patient Programme. The joint initiative run by Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT), HMP Send and the Expert Patient Programme Community Interest Company begins on 12th June and runs for 6 weeks.

The programme is based on the principle that people living with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease and neurological diseases often have expert knowledge of their condition. The course enables participants to develop skills and confidence to better manage their condition on a day-to-day basis and it can also help them to feel more in control of their lives.

The course focuses on four key areas, namely; behavioural change, attitude, skills, and communication.  It will be delivered by two tutors who themselves are living with a long-term health condition.

Tutor, Pat Millar explains; “We have no magic wand, our job is to provide participants with the tools they need to better manage their own condition and take more control of the effect it may have on their lives.   

The tutors will facilitate group activities and discussions by encouraging participants to share their own experiences and work together to support one another.

Lyn Cannon, Head of Learning Skills and Development from the Learning and Skill’s team at HMP Send said: “We jumped at the opportunity to get involved in this project because we really felt that women in the prison could benefit from the programme.
Following a really successful taster session we have had a lot of interest from women keen to take part so we hope this course will be the first of many.”  

Laura Dennett Public Engagement Manager at the PCT says; “Taking the Expert Patient programme into Send Prison is another way the PCT and its partners are ensuring people in local prisons have equal access to modern healthcare.” 

For more information please contact:
Suzi Lelliott on 01372 227 344
Suzi.lelliott@surreypct.nhs.uk