Volunteer Tutors and the Expert Patients Programme
Anne Kennedy is a Research Fellow in the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre. Anne spoke about the national evaluation of the Expert Patients Programme (EPP), a government programme to provide self care support for people with long term conditions.  Anne used the findings from four of the studies that formed part of the national evaluation to discuss the challenges of managing and sustaining the EPP voluntary tutor workforce. The presentation drew upon a process evaluation looking at how the EPP was rolled out by PCTs; a survey of volunteer tutors; a case study of a voluntary sector run EPP; and an evaluation of the on-line tutor programme. Some background to the EPP was provided, along with information around how volunteer EPP tutors were recruited, and challenges that the EPP faced. The presentation concluded with some suggested solutions to those challenges, noting that the programme is no longer managed by the Department of Health.

Further information can be found at: http://www.npcrdc.ac.uk/ProjectDetail.cfm?id=117
Click here to view Anne Kennedy’s presentation

Jane South (PI)

Anne-Marie Bagnall

Tim Bickerstaffe

Peter Branney

Dr Mima Cattan

Mark Gamsu

Marianne Kennedy

Karina Kinsella

Diane Lowcock

Dr Angela Meah

Martin Purcell

Sue Rooke

Dr Pinki Sahota

Jan Smithies

Judy White