Following a hugely successful launch last year, the Live Well Stay Well Project at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital will continue with more courses throughout 2011. A total of five courses have now been completed, and the first three were evaluated as part of a ‘pilot study’, with extremely positive results. Attendees reported great improvement in their ability to problem solve, think positively, communicate with friends, family and health professionals and in their ability to manage and live with their long-term conditions. They also reported much higher confidence in their daily lives and in managing their conditions. Some key figures are shown in the box below. The Live Well Stay Well Project is a self-management course for people with long term health conditions. The course encourages people to manage their condition on a daily basis by developing new skills. Each course consists of six sessions run over six weeks, with each session lasting for about two and a half hours. Anyone with any kind of long-term health condition is welcome and can refer themselves. In addition to this success, the project was nominated for and subsequently won the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence, specifically the 2010 Thomas Millar Award for Corporate and Social Responsibility. Jenny Brown, Clinical Governance Facilitator and Project Manager of Live Well Stay Well, said “Winning the Thomas Millar Award for Corporate and Social Responsibility is much appreciated recognition for all those involved, particularly the volunteers who lead the courses, without whom the project would not be running at all. They deserve the accolade for their time, efforts and great belief in the project.” Janet Grib, Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital Manager, stated “I feel tremendously proud to be the Manager of a Hospital that has been recognised as deserving of this prestigious award, against such strong competition. It is a reflection of the high standards of service delivery and innovation that Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital is known for.” The next Live Well Stay Well Course will run at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital from Saturday 5th March 2011. Places are available on a first come first served basis. There will be other courses throughout the year in a variety of locations, so anyone who feels they might be interested in attending should contact 486641 (9.30am till 2.00pm Monday to Friday (or voicemail), or email livewell-staywell.DH@gov.im. - ENDS -