Expert Patient Programme

The Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is a peer-led self-management initiative designed for individuals living with long-term health conditions. Originally adapted from the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program at Stanford University, it was launched within the UK National Health Service (NHS) in 2002 before transitioning into a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2007. The program focuses on empowering patients by teaching essential life skills such as goal setting, fatigue management, and effective communication with healthcare professionals. Although the central corporate entity, Expert Patients Programme CIC, was dissolved in 2015, the program's methodology remains a cornerstone of chronic disease management in the United Kingdom. Today, these services are primarily delivered through the charity Self Management UK and various local NHS trusts and authorities.