Patient Joan Taylor occasionally visits our hospital, though as a patient she manages her conditions herself at home. On Monday she came to CRH along with heart patient and volunteer Darren Gibson to help raise awareness of our Take Control programme as part of Self Care Week.

Joan said of the programme: "It really helped me to reset my mind - giving me a totally different approach. I still thought I should be able to do the same things I could 10 years ago, so part of what I've learned is to be realistic with myself.

"I really love poetry and wrote a poem (see attachment at bottom of story***) which I shared with some of the group I'm now friends with in the programme. I had some lovely comments back and a few people told me how it helped them too. I realised then I could help others and didn't feel so useless. I often put pen to paper now".

And heart patient Darren Gibson who is a volunteer and tutor for a seven week programme said "I learn as much from the group as I can give. It's good to see the change in people. It makes you realise you're not on your own".

Supported Self Management Programme Manager Darren De sousa told CHFT Weekly: "The programme focuses on what people CAN do, and to forget what they can't, helping them set goals - it's about reminding people what they're good at. Look at Joan....she's a total star!".

Self Care Week is an annual national awareness week that focuses on establishing support for self care across communities, families and generations. Helping individuals to self care has many benefits for their short term and long term health and this is important since people are living longer. It also helps to manage demand on health services. 

If you have patients you feel would benefit from the Take Control course please contact Darren on 01422 224 225.

*** Joan also wrote a poem which is really appropriate in this Antibiotic Awareness Week - it's called Auntie Biotic (see attached).