Do your health improvement projects need a health check?

The focus on improving community health continues to dominate the political agenda, and the voluntary sector is already working in partnership with Local Authorities to develop innovative ways to improve public health.

But how often do these projects deliver the benefits you hope for? How can you guarantee that they’ll run to time and on budget? And has the team lost sight of the original goals?

In short, do you and your team have the knowledge and expertise to deliver results?

“We can lead healthier, more productive lives but many need help in creating the environment where this is possible. This task is everyone’s business.” 

Richard Shircore. Course Leader.

Developing and Managing Health Improvement Projects

Developing and Managing Health Improvement Projects is one of our most popular courses, designed to prepare project managers to run effective programmes, on time, on budget and in harmony with their partner organisations.

This one day programme takes place on November 23^rd in our Head Office in London.There are just three places left, so book yours now. It costs just £175 per delegate for a full day and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials. Contact Nicolette Smith to make your booking, on 020 3177 1625 or email nsmith@rsph.org.uk.

What we will cover:

1. How to identify realistic aims and objectives
2. How to ensure that the outcomes of your project meet your expectations
3. Theory and best practice for planning and execution
4. Three critical barriers to successful project management and how to overcome them
5. The most effective ways to evaluate your results
6. How to identify problems before they arise and respond positively

How others have benefited

“Excellent! I was worried that this may be too theoretical, however I have learnt so much on this one day training course, thank you RSPH.“ Delegate on Developing and Managing Health Improvement Projects

Ways of Tackling Obesity - Fat Tax, Better Labelling and Restricting Advertisements

A team of researchers from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and from the World Health Organization (WHO), published a paper in The Lancet Series on Chronic Disease and Development.  The paper explores and highlights ways to tackle the rise in obseity in nations of all incomes.

The paper studied obesity rates in seven countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and,  England.  The researchers found that in all seven countries, obesity posed a big health problem.  Statistics reveal that the UK is the fattest country in Europe and this is set to rise by 10% over the next decade.  Seven in ten Mexican adults are now considered obese or overweight.  Similarly China now has the same rates of diabetes as the USA (92 million).    

As such, the paper concluded that in order to tackle rising obesity levels, a combined approach needs to be implemented nationally.  Taxing unhealthy foods, (or reducing tax on healthy foods), restricting advertisements on unhealthy foods and improving labeling, is among the most cost effective ways to promote healthy eating.  It is estimated that these measures would add nearly 7 million life years in good health over the next two decades in seven countries covering almost half of the world population.

Clearly authors of the paper provide some clear actions that need to be seriously considered to help drive down obesity levels.  However, what other ways and initiatives can be introduced to encourage people to make healthier lifestyle choices?
 



World Diabetes Day "Eye Lights" The Global Diabetes Panademic

The 14th November is World Diabetes Day (WDD) which was created to raise awareness and understanding of the global diabetes pandemic.  Currently in the UK the number of people affected by diabetes is over 2.8 million and this figure is expected to rise.  By 2025 it is estimated that over 4 million people will suffer from diabetes due to aging populations, increasing rates of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. 

To mark WDD, Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, will be the guest speaker at a reception this evening.  The event will bring together members of the diabetes community and will address key issues facing patients, healthcare professionals and policy makers throughout the UK.  To coincide with tonights reception and the 14th November, the Merlin Entertainments London Eye will be illuminating blue to respresent the WDD blue circle logo.

Do you know the most effective ways to improve community health? Or the proven techniques to encourage healthier life styles?

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement is a new programme designed to give a firm grounding in Public Health to key individuals who work in Local Authorities and Voluntary Organisations.

This two day programme takes place on November 8^th and 9^th in our Head Office in London. It costs just £350 per delegate for two full days and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials. Contact Nicolette Smith to make your booking, on 020 3177 1625 or email nsmith@rsph.org.uk.

There are only 3 days left to book at our Early Bird price of £315

What we will cover:

1. The three key lifestyle choices affecting personal health, and their impact on your community.
2. The practical implications of these choices for our public health.
3. First principles for promoting good health
4. Three ways to improve community health, and how to communicate them
5. The critical barriers to improving health in the community and how to overcome them
6. Proven techniques for encouraging changes in behaviour
7. How to handle confidential information securely
8. The most effective ways to evaluate your results

“The journey starts here. Educational, enjoyable, empowering.”

Dartmoor works towards better health

Over the past twenty years the number of older people entering the criminal justice system has trebled and these prisoners tend to have poorer health than the general population.  Those over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from physical disabilities, long standing illnesses and have mental health issues.

As a result, NHS Devon’s health promotion team in partnership with Age Concern (now Age UK) created the Age Concern Older Offenders’ Project, with the primary aim of improving the health of older offenders within Devon Prisons. 

The joint project was developed to support the pilot of a Health Trainer programme in prisons.  The Introduction of the Health Trainer role for older offenders enables them to support their peers with first level health and social care advice, as well as ensuring appropriate steps are taken to improve their health. 

Stephanie Parker and Jean Harrison, Health Improvement Advisors for NHS Devon, delivered two Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) courses on Understanding Health Improvement.  The accredited course provides an introduction to the basics of health and wellbeing and how to empower offenders to make healthier lifestyle choices.  26 volunteers, 18 of whom were offenders, successfully completed the interactive training. 

Since then, numerous health related activities have been introduced in the prison.  Offenders have noted that they are beginning to benefit from this more supportive and personalised approach to health, commenting:  “I feel more relaxed and am able to sleep without interruption” and “I have lost weight and I am aware of my improved physique”.

Stephanie Parker has since won an NHS Devon Staff Award for her contribution and due to the overall success of the pilot, work is now continuing in Dartmoor prison to help support and develop the offender Health Trainer role.

 

New Training Guide now available

To mark our first year of offering training programmes, a new Guide to Training Solutions has been launched. Designed to help commissioners and practitioners in health and well being to plan their training for the coming year, it contains details of all the training programmes and demonstrates how they support the priorities outlined in the recent NHS Reviews and the Government White Paper. It also introduces the range of expert trainers, whose experience across the health service is second to none. The Guide is available now from Nicolette Smith at the Royal Society for Public Health, or can be downloaded from the RSPH website.

Are you ready to play your part in the Big Society?

Changes to our health service mean big changes to how we manage the health of our communities.

The development of the Big Society will mean much more responsibility being taken on by the voluntary sector and Local Authorities.

Do you and your team have the knowledge and expertise to take this on?

“We can lead healthier, more productive lives but many need help in knowing how to do so, and help in creating the environment where this is possible. This task is everyone’s business.” 

Richard Shircore. Author of RSPH’s Commissioning Guide.

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement is a new programme designed to give a firm grounding in Public Health to key individuals who will be part of these changes.

This two day programme takes place on November 8^th and 9^th in our Head Office in London. It costs just £350 per delegate for two full days and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials. Contact Nicolette Smith to make your booking, on 020 3177 1625 or email nsmith@rsph.org.uk.