Improving access to self-management services

The term ‘expert patient’ was first introduced to the health arena in the White Paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation (Department of Health (DH), 1999). The concept was simple—that people living with long-term health conditions often have more knowledge and experience of dealing with the day-to-day impact of the condition on their lives than the health professional. The idea was to develop a partnership in managing the condition. In this partnership the clinical team is seen as being primarily responsible for diagnosis and monitoring, through to tests and treatment. The patient is responsible for implementing lifestyle changes, taking medication as recommended, and accurately reporting on changes in symptoms.