PEOPLE living with a long term medical conditions are being recruited as expert patients to help fellow sufferers.

Dales residents are being included in a national scheme developed by the Department of Health, which offers free courses to help people cope with chronic ailments including arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, heart conditions, multiple sclerosis and mental health problems.

The courses would run alongside medical treatments helping people to alleviate symptoms, reduce pain, boost their self-confidence and achieve a better quality of life.

They would not relate to one specific condition, but would cover general topics such as finding information, making actions plans, pain management, communicating with health professionals and coping with depression.

Katherine Humby, patient advice and liaison manager for the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, said: "The Expert Patient Programme is a fantastic scheme because it is all about people helping other people with the same illnesses and conditions and sharing their experiences and difficulties to improve their health for themselves."

The dales' first Expert Patient Programme starts at the end of the month and runs for six weeks in the Four Clocks Centre, Bishop Auckland. It will be launched tomorrow at the centre.

For details and application forms call Anne Yuill or Katharine Humby on (01388) 458835.