Blogs

This week National Voices is publishing a series of peer support case studies highlighting some of the ways in which charities are facilitating peer support, and the benefits for people living with long term health needs.  

These case studies follow the launch of the review Peer Support: What Is It and Does It Work? by National Voices and Nesta, on 14 May. The review found evidence that peer support can help people feel more knowledgeable, confident and happy, and less isolated and alone.

People, families and communities can and should play a crucial role in their own health. As the NHS Five Year Forward View puts it, people with long term conditions are likely to spend less than 1% of their time in contact with health professionals. The rest of the time they spend with their carers, their families or manage on their own.

Sam Peaceful-Day lives with Transverse Myelitis and is supported by Anya de Iongh, her self-management coach, to manage her health needs and live well. 

Here, Sam and Anya reflect on the difference health coaching has made for Sam’s life. 

My new doctor gave me a leaflet. I ignored it, just like I had ignored the depression I was in, due to years of pain and fatigue caused by Transverse Myelitis which makes me one in a million! It was a rare virus that affected my nervous system. But like millions of others my days had become disorganised and shorter - my life mostly put on HOLD.

At a recent conference, I noticed a great deal of time was spent on promoting awareness of bad practices within the health and care sector.  This got me to thinking about the vital role of National Voices members, and the wider voluntary sector, in building networks and promoting examples of the good practice which has improved services for, and lifestyles of, disabled people.