WHEN Wolverley ME sufferer, Janet Oliver, attended a course on how to cope with long-term illness, she was so impressed with the results that she resolved to bring it to Wyre Forest.

Two years later, not only has she succeeded in bringing the Experts Patients Programme to the district, she has gone one step further, having tutored the course herself since last summer, alongside multiple sclerosis sufferer, Ray Mudd.

Now, as the enthusiastic volunteers prepare to present their third six-week course - which is being held at Kidderminster Library from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Thursdays from next week - they are urging other sufferers to come forward for help.

Topics covered on the course, which caters for a range of long-term conditions, including arthritis, diabetes and asthma, include relaxation techniques and how to deal with health care professionals.

The benefits of healthy eating and exercising are also taught in the classes, as well as the ways certain drugs work.

Janet, who was one of only a handful of tutors to recently attend a national conference on the self-help scheme, explained: "I went on one of the first courses in Malvern two years ago because I had seen it advertised in an ME newsletter and thought it sounded very positive and I was very impressed.

"Wyre Forest wasn't involved at that point so I wrote to the MP and the chief executive of Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust and said 'this is a brilliant initiative, why aren't we involved?' and someone contacted me and asked if I would be on the steering committee and it all went from there."

She explained: "The first one in Bewdley was run by an official trainer, because I wasn't trained, and that's when Ray did the course - and we were trained to take courses in spring, 2003 and have done two now."

She added: "It is incredibly effective for most people who go and can make a real difference to their quality of lives, which was what impressed me so much - we don't tell anyone what to do - it's not about instruction but self help and education.

"One thing that keeps being said over and over again is that people have got their lives back and feel better about themselves."

Margaret Allsop, health improvement facilitator at Wyre Forest PCT, which pays for courses in Wyre Forest, added: "A lot of people have found it has helped them a lot and given them purpose to get on with things because, often, people with long-standing conditions get very tired and depressed and going out and mixing with other people helps."

She went on: "It acts almost like a support group, although it is not just about getting people together."

More information can be obtained by calling 01562 826329.