Hammersmith and Fulham PCT

Living Well Initiative - This is a project aimed at self-help through partnerships with health professionals to enable those living with HIV to live a fulfilled and healthy life.

Workshops are delivered by three facilitators one of whom will be living with HIV. Goal-setting, action planning and problem solving underpin the workshops.A close working relationship has been developed between participants and health professionals. They work as equal partners addressing issues of coping skills and how to live well with HIV.The steering group consists of participants working alongside professionals.The project is working with Thames Valley University to evaluate effectiveness. The methods used include random interviews with participants; questionnaire on first session and questionnaire on seventh session to review progress. Also 6 month follow up questionnaire.

The project feels the critical factors for success are:

• To shift the traditional way of thinking of NHS professionals from providing solutions to working with people as partners.

• Make yourself sit in the participants' position to appreciate the issues fully.

• Do not foster dependency culture through over-protection.

• Do not work with a condition - work with the person

Contact Details:

James Miller
0208 7462274
james.miller@hf-pct.nhs.uk