Newsletter No 3 2017

Photo of Isabel Saraiva The European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP) – Newsletter No 3 2017

Improving treatment and care

My name is Isabel Saraiva and I am delighted to have recently become the new Chair of the European Lung Foundation (ELF). I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and have worked with RESPIRA, Portuguese Association of people with COPD and other chronic respiratory disorders since 2007.

I completed the European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP) when I started doing patient advocacy work with ELF and the European Respiratory Society, and found it to be extremely useful. It opened windows of knowledge for me.

To become an effective patient ambassador, I believe it is important to learn about what exactly is involved. EPAP gives patients the fundamental tools to become advocates.

This newsletter edition has as its theme ‘Improving treatment and care’ and includes articles about how patient involvement in developing clinical guidelines is helping to improve the way healthcare is delivered. You can read about how EPAP patient ambassadors have got involved at both national and international level.

In my capacity as ELF Chair, I hope to encourage new patient advocates to undertake EPAP. However, I also hope to re-energise people that have already taken the programme. I think it is important to give those that may already be established as ambassadors, the space to keep up with the latest trends and developments in patient advocacy. Therefore, I would encourage everyone reading this newsletter to join the EPAP Facebook group and to say hello to your fellow ambassadors – I believe we all have much to learn from one another.

With warm regards

Isabel Saraiva

Newsletter No 3 2017 articles:

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