Leg clubs and the big society.

2010 has been an exciting and challenging year for the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation with the introduction of the Big Society and The NHS White Paper: Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS (Department of Health (DH), 2010). The coalition government’s vision of a society where individuals and communities have more power and responsibility, and are encouraged to create better neighbourhoods and local services and fits well with the Leg Club philosophy. This is a philosophy that encourages patients to become shared decision makers in their treatment and is based on a psychosocial model of care. In addition, the government has said it wants to give clinicians greater control over the way health and social care services are delivered. The Leg Club model gives health professionals the opportunity to improve local health services in partnership with local people – it removes them from clinical settings and puts them at the heart of the community. The Lindsay Leg Club model is founded upon people with leg problems ‘owning’ their community social clinic which is located in a non-medical setting such as a church or village hall. The Clubs are housed at social non-medical community venues and are supported by committed teams of nurses and the outstanding involvement of community volunteers. The members themselves are delighted to be involved and previously non-concordant patients have taken on the responsibility of self-management of their condition. This has made a real impact in all areas of their lives, delivered excellent healing rates and notably low recurrence. It also provides an informal support network to carers, family and friends. The nursing teams have built important relationships with other professionals while putting the patient at the centre of care delivery.