Meeting demand for health by providing convenient services
5. Chapter 2 set out how, in a new approach to health policy, the Government will lead a strategy for marketing health and some of the ways in which the Government will respond to raised demand for health. The NHS has a critical role in helping to match a new demand for health, created by more information and effective national campaigns, with an accessible supply of practical opportunities and support for people to take action. In particular, people in deprived areas need to have good access to primary health care services. We need not just to tell people about what they can do to improve their health but make it convenient for them to follow through and sustain the changes that they want to make.
6. The NHS will play its par t by building services around people's lives, and taking account of the different needs of different groups in the community, so that everyone can benefit. The aim is to put in place a reliable, effective and accessible infrastructure for health improvement and prevention services that matches the infrastructure for high quality treatment services that we all expect.
Case study
All patients with learning disabilities, registered at a large primary care centre in Warrington, were offered a health needs assessment and health action plans. A training programme was developed by two public health nurses to help staff deliver adapted mainstream services to people with learning disabilities. A year in to the project, 92% of the population had received an assessment compared with 22% the previous year.
'It was the first time in a long time that someone had asked me how I was feeling and what my worries for the future are. I feel like there is someone there now if I need advice.' Carer, aged 72
Case study
Green Light Pharmacy near Euston station in Central London not only provides 'typical' pharmacy services but has also transformed its basement into a local health education and meeting centre for local black and ethnic minority populations using Neighbourhood Renewal funding and private investment. It provides regular health education sessions to the Bangladeshi community, including specialist smoking cessation services.
The pharmacy also supports the Skilled for Health partnership for Bangladeshi people with diabetes by signposting into the classes and providing translation services. It also operates a training programme for community volunteers who encourage local people to complete a series of 'health risk assessment' questions which are analysed by the pharmacy and feedback provided on the patient's level of risk. The patient may then be asked to attend the pharmacy if they wish to have screening and a further opportunity to discuss healthier lifestyle options.
