I read with interest the article about Vicky Adams (The Argus, February 3), whose life has been affected by ME.

The local NHS provides free courses for people such as Vicky, who are living with long-term health conditions. The "Living Well" course, part of the national Expert Patients Programme, is aimed at improving the self-management skills of people who live with health problems.

It is run by trained volunteer tutors who themselves live with health conditions.

Courses do not deal with the medical side of the health conditions but focus on, for example, pain management, managing medication, dealing with the depression which often accompanies having a long-term health condition, appropriate nutrition and exercise.

Participants are encouraged to set achievable goals and feed back within the support offered by the group.

Courses are for six weeks, once a week for two-and-a-half hours and are run at different locations throughout Brighton and Hove.

They are also completely free to participants. If anyone is interested, they should contact Jane Bolding or Kim Day at Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, on 01273 296590, email kim.day@bhcpct.nhs.uk

-Jane Bolding, expert patient programme manager, Brighton and Hove NHS, 6th Floor, Vantage Point, New England Road, Brighton